Prof. Wilfred Ifeanyi Okonkwo

Engr. Prof. Wilfred Ifeanyi Okonkwo is a Professor of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a native of Ezinkwo, Umuezenahi, Ihioma in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. He attended Peoples Primary School, Ihioma, Orlu (1971 – 1977), Bishop Shanahan College and Ihitenansa Boys High School, Ihitenansa, Orlu Imo State between 1977 – 1982. Prof. Okonkwo holds Ph.D, M.Eng. and B.Eng degree certificates obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), Nigeria, all in Agricultural Engineering. He was a former Head of Department, Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2012 -2016), and a Former Head of Unit, Solar thermal at the National Centre for Energy Research and Development (NCERD) Energy Commission of Nigeria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2005 – 2007 and 2008 – 2012). Prof. Okonkwo joined the services of University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1993 as a Graduate Research Assistant from where he rose to the position of full Professor of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering in 2008. Prof. Okonkwo pioneered research work into the use of solar energy in poultry brooding operation and egg incubation technology in Nigeria. His contributions in renewable energy technologies, climate change, environment and in science and technology have won him both national and international recognition. He was Federal Republic of Nigeria Presidential Intervention and Innovation in science and technology 2011 grant award winner. Others include award of excellent contribution in science and technology by the National Universities Commission at the Universities and Research Institutes trade fair 2005, the Third World Academy of Science on innovation in science and technology in the south south, UNESCO and University Industrial – Science partnership (UNISPAR) programme, 2000. He was a National Consultant for UNIDO on the famous Ebonyi State solar energy desalination at Okposi and Uburu salt lake project in 2005. National Consultant for USAID on alternative energy policy draft for Cross River State in 2009. Some of Prof. Okonkwo’s outstanding research works in renewable energy technologies, climate change and environment include development of solar powered Trombe wall system for solar energy collection, storage and utilization for poultry production, Construction of prototypes of passive solar energy poultry chick brooding systems for commercial trials in Enugu state, Nigeria (2000) funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the University Industrial – Science Partnership (UNISPAR), Design and Fabrication of Solar Desalination system for salt extraction from seawater, development and performance evaluation of biogas digesters, development of a post-harvest preservation system for fresh agricultural produce etc. Prof. Okonkwo has done extensive works on solar dryers, solar cookers and in the training of Nigerian youths and farmers on green energy technologies and the utilization for domestic and industrial purposes. He was once the coordinator, National Centre for Energy Research and Development renewable energy agricultural farm on zero emissions. His areas of research interest are Food and Bioprocess Engineering, renewable energy, Climate and Environment, and Biomass technologies. Prof. Okonkwo is an approved postgraduate supervisor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has successfully graduated many postgraduate candidates both at Masters’ and Ph.D degree levels. He was a former chairman, Faculty of Engineering representative in the Board of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the chairman, Faculty of Engineering Curriculum Development and Outcome Based Engineering Education. He is an external examiner to many institutions in Nigeria and an adjunct Professor, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (2006 – 2014), University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria (2018 – 2019), and a visiting Professor, University of Wukari, Wukari, Nigeria respectively. Prof. Okonkwo has attended many short courses, conferences and workshops including regional training course on electricity power system expansion planning using Wien Automatic system planning package by IAEA, course on Distribution Laboratory Instrumentation System, ICTP, Trieste, Italy, course on creating and evaluation of tender and proposals, international training course on solar energy applications, China, annual Nigerian Solar Energy forum, Nigerian Society of Engineers and conferences of the Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). Prof. Okonkwo authored and co-authored over ninety (90) international and national academic article publications and conference proceedings to his credit. He is a member of many professional bodies including International Solar Energy Society (ISES), American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria (RAESON), Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN), African Academic Network, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Asian-Pacific Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (APCBEES) and Nigeria Institute of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE). Prof. Okonkwo is a COREN registered engineer, a member of advisory board of the society for rural development and empowerment in Africa. He is fellow of many societies including Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Alternative and Renewable Energy Society of Nigeria, African Academic Network and a fellow of the Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria. Prof. Okonkwo has served many societies at different capacity levels to include secretary, assistant secretary, Assistant Technical Secretary, technical secretary and the Publicity secretary. Prof. Okonkwo is happily married with children.