Prof. Onwualu Bags ANI Award Of Excellence

Abuja, Nigeria – April 11, 2025 — The President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Engr. Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, has been conferred with the prestigious ANI Excellence Award.

The award which was given to him by the Association of  Nigerian Inventors ( ANI) in recognition of his outstanding lifetime contributions to Nigeria’s science, technology, and engineering ecosystem, and his remarkable impact on the country’s innovativeness index is well deserved.

Prof. Onwualu, a seasoned academic and engineer, has had a distinguished career spanning decades, beginning with his appointment as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1983. Rising through the academic ranks, he was promoted to Professor of Agricultural Engineering in 1999. His academic journey includes degrees from UNN and the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University), Canada.

Since joining AUST in 2016, Prof. Onwualu has served not only as President but also as Head of Materials Science and Engineering and Director of Academic Planning. He is widely celebrated for his contributions to Agricultural and Materials Engineering, particularly in areas like Agricultural Power and Machinery, Agro-Processing, and Biomass Engineering.

His leadership track record includes serving as Director of Engineering Infrastructure at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), as well as Director General/CEO of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). He was also a key member of the National Research Fund Committee (NRF) of TETFund from 2019 to 2021 and formerly chaired the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Council in Lagos.

Prof. Onwualu is a Fellow of numerous professional bodies including the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, and the Nigeria Academy of Science, among others.

The ANI Excellence Award serves as a testament to his lifelong dedication to fostering innovation, research, and development in Nigeria. It is a recognition not just of individual brilliance but of visionary leadership that continues to inspire a generation of scientists, engineers, and inventors.

Speaking after receiving the award, Prof. Onwualu expressed gratitude to the Association of Nigerian Inventors and reiterated his commitment to advancing science and technology in Nigeria and across Africa.

“This award is a reminder that innovation is key to national development. We must continue to invest in research and encourage our young minds to create solutions that will transform our society,” he said.

The ANI Excellence Award is one of the highest recognitions given by the Association of Nigerian Inventors to individuals who have significantly advanced technological progress in the nation.