Prof. Oparaku Ogbonna Ukachukwu (Ph.D)

Professor Electronic Engineering
Department of Electronic Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering,
University of Nigeria, Nuskka.
Email: ogbonna.oparaku@unn.edu.ng

About Prof. Oparaku Ogbonna Ukachukwu

Oparaku Ogbonna Ukachukwu (Ph.D) is a professor at the Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical/Electronic Engineering) from the Department of Electronic Engineering, UNN in 1980. He acquired his Ph.D (Thesis: Fabrication, Characterization and Stability studies on lnP solar cells) in 1988 from the University of Northumbria. Newcasttle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

His research interests includes: Solid State Electronics, Renewable Energy Systems, Digital Electronics and Computer Systems.

He is a member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Prof. Oparaku Ogbonna has participated in over 80 conferences/workshops/seminars in Nigeria, Britain, Ivory Coast, Ghana, United States of America, France, Netherlands, Germany, India, Spain, Scotland, Mexico.

He has served in various capacities throughout his career including as: Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Head, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Director, National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, e.t.c

Educational Institutions Attended With Dates

  • University of Northumbria, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom 1985-1988
    Ph.D (Thesis: Fabrication,Characterisation and Stability Studies on InP Solar Cells)
  • University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1975-1980
    Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical/Electronic Engineering)
  • Government Secondary School, Afikpo 1971-1975
    WASC

Research Areas

  • Solid State Electronics,
  • Renewable Energy
  • Digital Electronics and Computer Systems

Courses Taught

I have been lecturing and supervising students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Taught courses:

ECE 321: Physical Electronics
ECE 322: Applied Electronics
ECE 471: Digital Electronics
ECE 521: Advanced Circuit Techniques
ECE 522: Solid State Electronics
ECE 625: Digital Integrated Electronics.
ECE 623: Computer Artechitecture.
ECE 601: Sypnosis and Research grants Writing
ECE 701: Security Engineering

Membership of Professional Bodies/Association

(i) Nigerian Society of Engineers (Member) — NO. 5348 (NSE)

(ii) Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (member) (IEEE)

(iii) Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (Fellow) (SESN)

(iv) International Solar Energy Society (Member) (ISES)

(v) Nigerian Meteorological Society (Member) (NMS)

Participations in International Activities/Meetings

  1. European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Barcelona, Spain, June 2005.
  2. Scientific visit to discuss collaborative Research and Development with Newcastle Photovoltaic Applications Centre, University of Northumbria at Newcastle-Upon-Tyre November 2005.
  3. Scientific visit to discuss collaborative R & D work with ENEA, TRISAIA, ITALY, November, 2005
  4. World Renewable Energy Congress (Conference) Florence, ITALY, August, 2006
  5. Renewable Energy Conference, organized by Department of Electrical Engineering, University of the District of Columbia, Washington D.C. USA.
  6. Research visit to International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) as a Senior Associate of ICTP, under the Scheme arrangement, January 2007.
  7. Visit to Brazil as a member of the Federal Government of Nigeria Delegation to understudy the Brazilian Energy sector (Renewable Energy in Particular) August, 2007.
  8. World Energy Congress (Conference) Rome, Italy, November, 2007.
  9. World Renewable Energy Congress (Conference) Glasgow Scotland, July, 2008.
  10. World Energy Council Executive Assembly in Mexico (Member of Nigerian Delegation), November, 2008.

Administrative and Technical Positions Held

i) Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

ii) Head, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (August 2011- August 2014).

iii) Director, National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka(October 2004-October 2009).

iv) Acting Director, in the absence of the substantive director (1999 – 2004)

v) Head, Photovoltaic Research Unit NCERD (1997-2012)

vi) Ex-officio Executive Member, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria(2003-2006)

vii) 1st Vice-President, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria(2001 – 2003)

viii) Secretary General, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (1997 – 2001)

ix) Technical secretary, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (1992 – 1997)

x) Assistant Technical Secretary, SESN (1990 – 1992)

xi) Editor in Chief, Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy (NJSE) (1992-1997)

xii) Assistant Editor-in-Chief NJSE (1990 – 1992)

xiii) Associate Editor, Global Journal of Engineering (2001 – )

xiv) Associate Editor, Journal of Science & Engineering (2003 – )

xv) Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, National Sensitization Workshop on Energy Efficiency in Industries in the South-East Zone of Nigeria (May,2004)

xvi) Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, National Workshop on Photovoltaic Technology and Application (2001)

xvii) Seminar Coordinator, Energy Research Centre (1991 – 1999).

xviii) Chairman Postgraduate Studies Committee, Department of Electronics Engineering (1999 – 2001)

xix) Secretary/Member, Faculty of Engineering Postgraduate Studies Committee (1990 – 1992).

xx) Member, Mechatronics Research Group, University of Nigeria

xxi) Coordinator, Optoelectronics and Renewable Energy research Group, University of Nigeria.

Review of Academic Publications

Over 60 Journal articles have been reviewed for several Journals among which are:

(i) Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy (NJSE)
(ii) Nigerian Journal of Renewable Energy (NJRE)
(iii) Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH)
(iv) Journal of Science and Engineering Research (GSER)
(v) Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (GJPAS)
(vi) Global Journal of Engineering Research (GJENR)

Academic Distinctions/Special Awards

i) British Council Award for 2-years M.Phil Degree Programme in the United Kingdom (1985-1987)

ii) Award of Scholarship to complete the PhD Programme. Awarded by British Aerospace department for research on ITO/InP Space Solar Cells at Northumbria University at Newcasttle Upon Tyne. (March 1987)

iii) Award of “Fellow, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria” by the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Society in general and Energy Research, Development and Dissemination in particular (December, 2003).

v) Award of “Senior Associate” position (Non-renewable Energy Technologies) by Abdus Salam, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, ITALY. The Award is active from March 2004 -December 2009.

vi) Global Journal Award. Awarded by the Editorial Board of the Global Journal Series, in recognition of
outstanding contributions and commitment to the growth of the Global JournalSeries through editorial and article review services offered.

vii) The Nigerian Golden Jubilee Award By PSR Magazine: For Contributions to Nation-Building in the sphere of
Research and Development, During the Celebrations Marking Nigeria’s 50 Years of Political Independence( 25th September, 2010, in Abuja, Nigeria).

viii) An Award in recognition of Meritorious services to the National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, as Director between October 2004 and October 2009.

ix) Award of Excellence in Energy Management, by the School of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, In recognition of Contribution to the Development of the Energy Sector in Nigeria, May 27,
2014.

X) An Award by the Prison Rehabilitation And Welfare Association(PRAWA) for contributions made to the welfare of Prison inmates at Nsukka Prison(June 2014).