Prof. Kenneth Ozoemena

Prof. Kenneth Ozoemena Kenneth Ozoemena is Professor of Materials for Energy & Electrochemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa. His current research interests are on materials science and electrochemistry with a focus on advanced materials for the next-generation clean energy technologies (including lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and fuel cell technologies) as well as the development of smart electrochemical sensors for health and environmental applications. He holds BSc (Hons) from Abia State University, double MSc degrees from the University of Lagos, and a PhD (2003) from Rhodes University. He is a Certified Renewable Energy Professional (CREP) of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE, USA), Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS), Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Professor Ozoemena has published well over 150 peer-reviewed articles, authored and edited books and book chapters.

Prof. Ishaq Ahmad

Prof. Ishaq Ahmad Ishaq Ahmad joined National Centre for Physics in 1999 and currently holds the position of Director, Experimental Physics department, National Centre for Physics, Islamabad and adjunct faculty member of Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad. He has co-authored over 80 publications in SCI journals and supervised several Master, PhD and Postdoctoral students. He has number of books and book chapters. His research interests are focused on Ion implantation, radiation induced modification of materials/nanomaterials, synthesis of nanomaterials/thin films and ion beam analysis of materials. He is editorial board member and reviewer of several well know journals. He was TWAS-UNESCO-iThemba LABS research Associate from 2014 to 2016. He obtained his PhD at Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Prof. Enock Dare

Prof. Enock Dare Enock Olugbenga Oladepo DARE is presently the first Professor of Nanotechnology in Nigeria. He is a seasoned chemist, distinguished scholar and researcher of high repute. He holds a Ph.D in Chemistry of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and Advanced Research Diploma in Chemical Engineering of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. A postdoctoral training at Princeton University, NJ, USA. Professor Dare is an outstanding international scholar and widely travelled to all continents of the world through international cooperation, having visited more than 30 different countries. He is a UNESCO and MONBUSHO fellow (Japan); FULBRIGHT and USAMI fellow (Princeton University, USA); Taiwanese National Science Foundation fellow (Taiwan); A regular associate of ICTP, Trieste, Italy e.t.c. To crown it all, he recently got the world most prestigious Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) – Georg Forster fellowship. He is presently AvH fellow, an awardee and a Professor at University of Regensburb, Germany. Prof. Dare is a kingpin of Nanotechnology research in Africa. He remains a major player in the Nigeria Nanotechnology Initiatives of 2006 that brought Nanotechnology into limelight in Nigeria. He has made excellent research output in Hybrid nanocomposites based on POSS, nanoporous membrane technology, transdermal drug delivery, nanobimetallic for sensor and catalysis, green nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, e.t.c. His most current research lies on “nano-enabled materials for anti-counterfeiting, fingerprinting for criminality detection. Prof. Dare successfully deployed the concept of nanotechnology in translating “discarded waste product via surface nanochemistry to prototype and technology leading to an international “Patent”. The technology has the full capability for petroleum fingerprinting, crude oil/water separation and promotes enhanced oil recovery. Furthermore, he is the brain behind the invention of a point-of-use nanoporous water purification technology that accorded him a national award as the 2nd best at the National Universities Research and Development Fair (NURESDEF 2012) which attracted all Universities in Nigeria. It is worth of note that several other awards, grants and commendations are to his credit. He was “Innovation and Invention” awardee of NASENI. The governing council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta commended him “for breaking new grounds in Chemistry” in the year 2014. He is the author/co-author of over 100 scientific publications and has given more than 30 invited lectures (plenary and keynotes) at various conferences world-wide. Professor Dare has produced 8 Doctors (Ph.Ds), some of which has gained tenure at prestigious institutions nationally and internationally. Administratively, he was former Acting Director of Academic Planning, Federal University, Lafia. As well, he was former Head of Department of Chemistry, FUNAAB.

Prof. Francis Dejene

Prof. Francis Dejene Prof. FB Dejene served as a lecturer at both Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Kenyatta University between 1994 and 1999. He is currently aprofessor at the department of physics, UFS (Qwa-Qwa Campus). He graduated for his PhD at RAU (currently UJ), where he addressed the incorporation of gallium and sulphur into CuInSe2 thin film, which was systematically investigated with a view to establish a scientific and engineering base for the fabrication of homogenous CuIn(Se,S)2 and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 quaternary alloys with optimum band gap values between 1.1 and 1.2 eV for the utilization in thin film solar cell devices. He demonstrated that quality chalcopyrite thin films can be produced by simple and reproducible processing technology. This fact is supported by the successful fabrication of a 10.2 % efficiency solar cell. The results obtained have advanced our understanding of this important material system and make significant contribution to the basic knowledge required in exploiting and advancing thin film chalcopyrite technology. He is currently involved with several parallel researches, which are on preparation by simple reproducible processes and characterization of new and smart materials for phosphorescence, photovoltaic, sensors, nanoparticles for energy, energy storage and FED applications. He has presented their research group results at different conferences, both locally and internationally. He has developed collaboration with University of the Western Cape, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Nairobi, University of Eldoret, JKUAT Physics, University of Addis Ababa, Tokyo Institute of Science and Technology, ICTP and Tsukuba University.

Prof. Deji Akinwade

Prof. Deji Akinwade Dr. Deji Akinwande is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). He received the PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2009, where he conducted research on the synthesis, device physics, and circuit applications of carbon nanotubes and graphene. His Master’s research in Applied Physics at Case Western Reserve University pioneered the design and development of near-field microwave probe tips for nondestructive imaging and studies of materials. He is the David & Doris Lybarger Endowed Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Prof. Akinwande has been honored with the 2017 Bessel-Humboldt Research Award, the U.S Presidential PECASE award, the inaugural Gordon Moore Inventor Fellow award, the inaugural IEEE Nano Geim and Novoselov Graphene Prize, the IEEE “Early Career Award” in Nanotechnology, the NSF CAREER award, several DoD Young Investigator awards, the 3M Nontenured Faculty Award, and was a past recipient of fellowships from the Kilby/TI, Ford Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and Stanford DARE Initiative. His recent results on silicene have been featured by nature news, Time magazine and was selected among the top 2015 science stories by Discover magazine. His work on flexible 2D electronics was highlighted among the “best of 2012” by the nanotechweb news portal and has been featured on MIT’s technology review and other technical media outlets. He is a distinguished lecturer of the IEEE Electron Device Society and an Editor for the IEEE Electron Device Letters and Nature NPJ 2D Materials and Applications. He co-authored a textbook on carbon nanotubes and graphene device physics by Cambridge University Press, 2011, and was recently a finalist for the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the highest teaching award from the University of Texas System.

Prof. Emmanuel Iwuoha

Prof. Emmanuel Iwuoha Emmanuel Iwuoha is the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) Chair (Tier 1) for NanoElectrochemistry and Sensor Technology and a Senior (Distinguished) Professor of Chemistry at the University of Western Cape (UWC). He received the University of Western Cape Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Researcher Award for 2015. He was a finalist in the 18th National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-SOUTH 32 AWARDS 2015/16 which recognises excellence within the science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI) community. Prof Iwuoha is an electrochemist whose research work relates to the designing and production of smart materials (polymeric, dendritic and graphenated composite systems; as well as, multi-metal nanoalloys and chalcogenide quantum dots) for application in sensors, electroanalysis and energy-generating systems. He is the Founder and Director of SensorLab™ (UWC Sensor Research Laboratories) since 2002, and the research centre’s team comprised 8 Academic staff, 7 Postdoctoral Fellows, 34 PhDs and 20 MSc in 2017. Prof Iwuoha has supervised 51 PhD and 52 MSc graduates. He has more than 239 ISI-cited journal publications, book and encyclopaedia chapters. In addition, he is currently in the editorial board of Bioelectrochemistry, the official journal of the Bioelectrochemical Society, served in the editorial board of several journals and recently was a Special Issue Editor of Journal of Nano Research Volume 44 (2016) on “Nanomaterials for electrocatalysis and electrochemical energy applications“. Among many others, Prof Iwuoha has gave Plenary Lectures at the 1995 Heyrovsky Discussions, Prague; the 4th World Biosensor Congress of 1996 in Bangkok; the Caribbean Conference of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of 2001 in Havana, Cuba; the 5th Southern and Eastern African Network of Analytical Chemist Conference (SEANAC 2014), Mombasa, Kenya, 9–13 June, 2014; and the 81st Prague Meeting on Macromolecules (81 PMM): Polymer Optoelectronic, 20-14 September 2017, Prague, Czech Republic. Some recent Keynote Presentations he made include Electrochem 2015, Durham, UK, 13-15 September 2015; and the 16th International Conference on Electroanalysis (ESEAC 2016), Bath, UK, 12-16 June 2016; the 14th Topical Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, Nanjing, China, 29 March-1 April 2014; International Conference on Polymer Composites (ICPC-2014), Surathkal, Mangalore, India, 19-20 December, 2014); and the 7th International Symposium on Macro- and Supra-molecular Architectures and Materials (MAM-2014), 23-27 November 2014, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prof. Justus Ndukaife

Prof. Justus Ndukaife Professor Justus Ndukaife is with the department of electrical engineering and computer science at Vanderbilt University. He is also a faculty member of the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE). Prior to joining Vanderbilt University, he received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University during which he was awarded the prestigious Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation Award for outstanding Ph.D. dissertation, an award given to the best doctoral candidate at Purdue University every year. He was recognized for his invention of a new kind of Lab-on-a-Chip device called Electrothermoplasmonic Tweezers for high resolution trapping of nanoscale objects. His other honors include the Purdue College of Engineering Outstanding Research Award, the NSBE Golden Torch Award, Best Paper Award at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) conference, election as co-chair of the 2018 Gordon Research Seminar on Plasmonics and Nanophotonics, and Induction into the Society of Innovators of Northwest, Indiana, USA. During the 2016 Gordon Research Conference on Plasmonics and Nanophotonics, he was selected to deliver the late-breaking talk and his presentation was entitled “Shaping the Future of Plasmon Nano-Optical Tweezing”. His research works have been published in the top peer-reviewed journals including Nature Nanotechnology, Science and ACS Nano. He received the bachelor of science degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria with First Class honors in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Professor Ndukaife’s research is at the interface between the fields of nanophotonics (which involves the confinement and manipulation of light at the deeply subwavelength scale) and microfluidics, as well as on novel bio-inspired soft actuators and robots. Professor Ndukaife’s research interests include nano-optical trapping with plasmonic and resonant dielectric metasurfaces, programmable self-assembly of nanostructures for energy harvesting and on-chip light sources, discovery of novel emergent behavior in nanoscale motors, and nano-biosensors for water quality monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics.

Dr. Katlego Makgopa

Dr. Katlego Makgopa Dr. Katlego Makgopa attended secondary school at Phusela High School, Lenyenye (Limpopo). He obtained a BSc degree, Chemistry and Biochemistry as majors, at University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Polokwane and BSc (Hons) in Chemistry at University of Pretoria, Pretoria (Gauteng). He commenced MSc in 2010 and PhD in 2012, at University of Pretoria, Chemistry Department, and both studies focused on the Electrochemistry of Energy Storage Materials for application in Supercapacitors. He started Postdoctoral study at the University of Pretoria after completing his PhD in July-2016, where he focused on the synthesis of metal-free carbon-based catalysts for the reduction of CO2 into liquid fuels, and ended in February-2017. He briefly worked as a Senior Lecturer at University of Limpopo before his full-time employment at Tshwane University of Technology in May-2017 as a Physical Chemistry Lecturer at Chemistry Department, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria. He has published his research output at various internationally peer-reviewed journals as both articles, book chapters, and presented his work at various conferences. His current research interest is in the area of materials science, energy storage, renewable energy and nanotechnology, focusing mainly on the electrochemistry of nanostructured materials such as nanostructures of carbons (e.g., OLCs, CNTs, Graphene, GO, AC), transition metal oxides (e.g., MnO2, Mn3O4, NiO) and redox-active N4-macrocyclic metal complexes (e.g., metallophthalocyanines, NiTAPc) with a view of establishing their potential applications in the development of electrochemical energy storage (i.e., electrochemical capacitors, and lithium-ion batteries) and conversion (i.e., fuel cells) systems. He has experience in employing a multi-disciplinary approach to materials characterization, which draws from a repertoire of sophisticated techniques that includes advanced electrochemistry and microscopic/spectroscopic techniques. He has promoted one BTech student in 2017 and currently supervising and co-supervising six MSc students.

Prof. Rajan Jose

Prof. Rajan Jose Professor Rajan Jose is currently the Dean of Research (Technology), a member of Senate, and a Senior Professor at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). He supervises the Nanostructured Renewable Energy Materials Laboratory in the UMP. He investigated nanostructured perovskite ceramics for microwave and superconducting electronics during doctoral research at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Trivandrum, India and received PhD degree in the year 2002 for his work on superconducting and microwave electronics. He was employed as a scientist at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (India), AIST (Japan), Toyota Technological Institute (Japan), and the National University of Singapore (Singapore) before joining UMP. He has published over 160 papers in Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) indexed journals which are cited nearly 6400 times with an h-index of 43. He holds over 21 patents nationally and internationally. His current research interests include nanostructured materials and renewable energy devices.

Prof. M.V. Reddy

Prof. M.V. Reddy Dr. M.V. Reddy obtained his Ph. D (2003) in the area of Materials Science from ICMCB-CNRS)/ENSCPB, University of Bordeaux, France. From July 2003, he is working in National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore. For the last 15 years, he has been working on the nano/submicron sized materials for Li-ion battery materials (cathodes, anodes, supercapacitors and solid electrolytes), including novel methods of synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the electrochemical properties. He has published around 163 papers in various international journal (http://scholar.google.com.sg/citations?user=pWKr2M0AAAAJ&hl=en) and gave 70 talks (Plenary (10), keynote (10) and Invited talks (38) and 16 contributed talks) at various conferences. His h-index; 50 and 9500 citations. Reddy is one of the top 1% highly cited scientists (data from InCites, Thomson Reuters) and According to Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) data base listed #256 out of 500 authors worldwide (based on number of publications) under electrochemistry and according to publications in top 10%, I am ranking no. #37 and ranked no 1 on the molten salt synthesis. He authored a landmark publication on electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries and their reaction mechanisms that appeared in Chemical Reviews (impact factor 47; the paper has been cited over 1550 times since July. 2013). He is serving as editorial advisory board member in “Materials Research Bulletin” and several open access Journals, and he served as theme chair for Energy and Environment and session chair for Batteries, Fuel cells and materials for Environmental protection in International Conference of Young Researchers on Advanced Materials (ICYRAM-IUMRS) 2012, Singapore. He trained more than 250 local high school/college and International exchange students and 9 Ph.D students. His projects won many awards in national and international conferences and his project won 2nd prize in prestigious Intel International Science &Engg. Fair (ISEF 2013) and 1st prize from American Chemical Society, USA. He won Outstanding Science Mentorship Award (2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), from Ministry of Education, Singapore and Inspiring Research Mentor Award (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017) from NUSHS. He is visiting professor and serving as a Ph.D thesis examiner for various universities.
Research Interests: Nanotechnology; Energy storage materials: Li-ion batteries; supercapacitors; Advanced functional materials.

Prof. Uchechukwu U. Nwodo

Prof. Uchechukwu U. Nwodo Professor Nwodo is currently the Head, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Fort Hare and, an MSc (Medical Virology) and BSc (combined Honours; Microbiology/Biochemistry) respectively from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2013, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare for one year prior to his appointment as a faculty member. Professor Nwodo likewise hold other certificates in Bioentrepreneurship, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Molecular biology and Laboratory safety techniques from notable institutions. Professor Nwodo is an NRF rated (Y2) researcher and in 2016, he was a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Emerging Researcher award for the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare. And, from the international sphere, he served as a visiting Professor at the University of Tübingen, Germany (2016). He’s been recognised with prestigious awards for emerging and young scientists some of which includes the competitive German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)/ the World Academy of Science (TWAS) Cooperation Visit for Scientists (2016), the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene award (2015), the Biovision/TWAS Alexandria, Egypt Award (2013 – 2015), Biovision/TWAS Lyon France Award (2014 – 2015) respectively, and the Federation for European Microbiological Society (FEMS) Young Affiliate Award, Leipzig, Germany (2013). Professor Nwodo has to his credit one hundred and thirty five (135) publications comprising of sixty (60) peer-reviewed journal articles published in (ISI and Thomson-Reuters indexed) high impact factored journals, thirty five (35) international and national conference proceedings and forty (40) nucleotide sequences. His research focuses on the bio-molecules of added value, disease and antibiotic resistance determinants and natural product chemistry thematic areas. Some of Professor Nwodo’s active research collaborations are with the Gene Ecology Research Institute, University of Tromso, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany, University of Cairo, Egypt, University of Ottawa, Canada, Universitaire El Manar, Tunisie, Tunisia and Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization, Tanzania. Professor Nwodo has enjoyed immense funding support from the ESKOM power utility company of South Africa (TESP-ESKOM), the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), the Technology Innovation Agency of South Africa (TIA), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), German Research Foundation (DFG), the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre (GMRDC).
Conclusively, Professor Nwodo is blessed with a beautiful and an amiable wife, a son and a daughter. Their love and support gives him ambient psychological balance for optimum work performance.

Prof. Velumani Subramaniam

Prof. Velumani Subramaniam Prof. Velumani Subramaniam received Ph.D. in Thin Film Physics from Bharathiar University in the year 1998. Employed as Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Coimbatore Institute of Technology from 1986 to 2001. Worked as a Postdoc & Researcher in Solar-Hydrogen Fuel cell group in UNAM, Temixco and Mexican Petroleum Research center from 2001 to 2005. Later joined as Research Professor and Co-ordinator in the Materials Science group of Physics Department in ITESM, Monterey, Mexico. From 2008, working as full time Research Professor in the Electronics and Solid State Section of Electrical Engineering Department at CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico. Recently won mega project of about 27 Million MN Pesos for the construction of water treatment plant using solar energy and nanomaterials. In 2009 won a very prestigious project to set up National Laboratory for microscope now named as “Laboratorio Avanzado de Nanoscopia Electronica” with an investment of about 55 Million MN Pesos and served as coordinator till Dec 2013. During the period 2009 to 2015 won various projects from CONACyT, European Union, Mexican industries related to bismuth Vanadate, Au:Fe3O4 core shell for medical application etc. Recently participating as executive committee member in the Coordination for Innovation, in the prestigious Mexican Government initiative on “Centro Mexicano de Innovación en Energía Solar (CEMIE-Sol).” Served as coordinator for international relations from 2008 to 2013. So far published more than 140 research articles in leading peer reviewed international journals with more than 1500 citations and have more than 300 conference presentations. Served as guest editor for about 11 special volumes of various journals published by Elsevier, Springer and TransTech etc. Presently serving as editorial board member in the journals Materials Science in Semiconductor processing, an Elsevier journal. Delivered more than 30 invited/plenary lectures in various international conferences around the world. Guided about 12 undergraduate thesis, 14 postgraduate (Masters) thesis and about 10 PhD student, and seven (8) students are pursuing their PhD under his guidance on various topics. Topics of research Collaboration/interest are:

  • Synthesis and characterization of various materials for fabrication of solar cells, especially CIGS, CZTS and Perovskites based solar cells
  • Synthesis and characterization of various nanocomposite materials for photocatalytic (BiVO4, TiO2, SPIONS and Core-shell (Au-Fe3O4)) and adsorption of heavy metals – for water treatment

Dr. Solomon Nwaka

Prof. Solomon Nwaka Solomon Nwaka’s scientific and leadership career spans various academic, public and international organizations, biotechnology industry, and public-private partnerships in several countries, including USA, Canada, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Presently, he is the founding Executive Director of ANDI – African network for drugs and Diagnostics Innovation at United Nations in Addis Ababa. He headed various R&D units and championed several initiatives, including ANDI, at the WHO’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva, Switzerland. He also served as Scientific Officer/Director for Drug Discovery and Innovation at the Medicines for Malaria Venture in Geneva. He has published extensively, and has received a number of awards and fellowships. He is a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Victoria Jideani

Prof. Victoria Jideani Professor Victoria Jideani, possesses a BSc. honours degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, Nigeria (1983); MSc. degree (1993) in Food Science from the University of Leeds, Britain; a Diploma in Computer Applications from the Women Technology Centre, Leeds, Britain in 1994 and PhD in Food Microbiology at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Nigeria (2001). Professor Jideani is the Founder and Leader of the Cereals and Legumes Biopolymers Research for Food Security (CLBRFS) group at CPUT (https://sites.google.com/site/clbrfs0814/). Our focus is on value addition to African indigenous climate-smart grains and seeds, a means for Africa achieving food and nutrition security. Victoria has two registered patents and over 70 publications in both international and regional peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and books/book chapters. She is internationally recognized for her research contribution in cereal science, food processing, food product development, optimization and modeling of food processes. She is a professional member of the following professional bodies:

(1) Professional Natural Scientist, South Africa from 2010;
(2) South African Association of Food Technologists (SAAFoST) from 2008;
(3) Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) from 2007;
(4) European Association for Integrating Food Science and Engineering Knowledge Into the Food Chain (ISEKI-Food Association) from 2014;
(5) Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) from 1989.


Prof. Anthony A. Attama

Prof. Anthony A. Attama Anthony Amaechi Attama is a professor of Pharmaceutics and the Director, Education Innovation Unit (Vice Chancellor’s Office) University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is the Coordinator of Drug Delivery and Nanomedicines Research Group at the University of Nigeria. Prof. Attama was at the Institut für Pharmazeutische Technologie, Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Germany for his postdoctoral research in pharmaceutical nanotechnology sponsored by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. Prof. Attama was a Visiting Professor at the Laboratory of Membrane and Liposome Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (February to April 2018). He has researched extensively on lipid drug delivery systems- micro and nanomedicines using natural and biocompatible lipids. His research interests include among others, development and formulation of novel delivery systems (e.g. micro/nano systems) of bioactive agents for the control of tropical diseases. He collaborates with renowned scientists within and outside Nigeria. Prof. Attama has won many research and travel grants, and has attended many scientific conferences and workshops. He supervises postgraduate students in pharmaceutical sciences and has many research articles published in peer-reviewed high impact journals. In a bid to translate research results to products, he has fostered the establishment of some pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria and also serves as a consultant to many pharmaceutical companies. Prof. Attama is a registered pharmacist and a Federal Government licenced drug analyst.

Dr. Mesfin Kebede

Dr. Mesfin Kebede Mesfin Kebede has completed his PhD in 2009 in Materials Science and Engineering from Inha University South Korea. He is currently a senior researcher at CSIR. He has been studying and researching nanostructured materials properties and applications as electrodes for lithium ion battery, gas sensor, luminescent and photoluminescence, photocatalysis for almost a decade. He has been supervising and mentoring MSc and PhD students research projects. He has authored 2 book chapters and more than 44 papers in reputed journals with h-index of 12 and has been serving as reviewer for several high impact journals and he also serves as editorial board member.

Prof. Chinedu Ekuma

Prof. Chinedu Ekuma Chinedu Ekuma is a Research Fellow at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD. Dr. Ekuma’s research focuses on using density functional theory and various many-body approaches to design and study materials with the goal

(1) to discover new materials with significantly useful technological applications;
(2) to understand and control the interplay between the coexisting emerging functionalities; and
(3) to explore how atomic defects affect these emerging properties.

Of particular interest are promising materials for spintronic, energy-efficient, energy-conversion (photovoltaic, thermoelectric), and energy-storage applications and in advancing our knowledge on the decades-old problem of electron localization, where he pioneered the development of a first-principles-based approach that he currently applies to explore the role of atomic defects in materials.


Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad

Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad graduated in Physics from University of Agricultural, Faisalabad; and obtained his PhD from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China. He has been a member of COMSATS faculty since 2002 when he joined as a Research Associate to work on Fuel Cell Technology. Currently, he leads the Quantum, Optoelectronic and Photonic Devices (QOPD) Research group and have established a synthesis lab equipped with fume hoods, wet benches, glove box with nitrogen/Argon supply, hot plates, centrifuges, ovens, furnaces, solar cells sealer, driller and a characterization housing AFM, UV-Vis NIR spectrometer, Raman & PL Setup. The research facilities mentioned above have been established through wining research projects mainly from COMSASTS and Higher Education Commission (HEC) whereas as few more Research projects on synthesis of Optoelectronic/Energy devices (Solar Cells, Fuel Cells) are submitted to strengthen and enhance research facilities to boost the research area. Dr. Ahmad’s future vision for research aims at developing novel and low cost semiconductor materials for energy devices and sensing applications; and a fully equipped Photovoltaic research Lab at Physics Department, CIIT Lahore in particular. His research inclination mainly focuses on composite semiconductor materials and Graphene oxide; and probing if their optoelectronic properties is well suited for modern device applications.

Prof. Khan Rauf

Prof. Khan Rauf Muhammad Abdul Rauf Khan is an associate Professor at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. He is also the Director, High Tech. Centralized Instrumentation Lab, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad. He has been conducting research on thin film, semi-conducting and solid state materials; since his M.Sc. studies. Currerntly, he specializes on the fabrication and characterization of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). He obtained his PhD degree from Shanghai University, China. His research interests include:

  • Fabrication and Characterization of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)
  • Synthesis and Characterization of organic/inorganic Nanostructures and their applications
  • Characterization of Semiconductor Materials
  • Optical and Electrical Analytical techniques
  • Synthesis and Study of Hybrid solar cell

Prof. E.D. Dikio

Prof. E.D. Dikio Ezekiel Dixon Dikio is a Professor of Physical and Material Chemistry at Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark South Africa. Prof Ezekiel D. Dikio obtained his PhD from North West University, Mafikeng, South Africa. He has lectured at North West University Mafikeng South Africa, Birla Institute of Technology, Dubai UAE and is currently at Vaal University of Technology. He has over eighty publications in peer reviewed journals. His research interest is in the area of Thermodynamics of Binary and Ternary solution systems and Material Chemistry (Synthesis, Characterization, Electrochemical and Adsorption studies of Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, Metal Organic Frameworks and Layered Double Hydroxides).

Prof. Martin O. Onani

Prof. Martin O. Onani Prof Martin O. Onani is an associate professor of inorganic chemistry and nanochemistry at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town South Africa. He supervises PhD and MSc candidates for both inorganic and nanochemistry in the area of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, and cancer in South Africa. He is the chemist for the DST/Mintek NIC Biolabels Platform, which is basically tasked with the development of diagnostic and therapeutic nanotechnology-based systems. This is a South African national initiative in nanotechnology started over 10 years ago. He has served as a lecturer at both the Jomo Kenyata University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya and Walter Sisulu University of Technology and Science, South Africa. He holds BSc (Hons) from Kenyatta University, Kenya, MSc Kenyatta University and PhD in the then University of Natal, South Africa. He is a member of the South African Chemical Institute, African Academy of Sciences (FAAS), Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Asso. Professor Onani has published well over 70 peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Kingsley O. Obodo

Dr. Kingsley O. Obodo Kingsley Onyebuchi Obodo is a Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of South Africa where he has been a member of the High Performance computing group since 2016. He holds the Research Chair Fellowship. Kingsley completed his Ph.D. at the University of Pretoria, his MSc. at the African University of Science and Technology Abuja and his undergraduate studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. His research interests lie in the following areas:

  • Quantum mechanical studies of solid state systems
  • Magnetic and thermal properties of materials in nano-scale
  • Defects, surfaces, semiconductors, interface
  • Electronic properties of energy-relevant materials and catalysis
  • Computational high through put screening and high-performance computing

Kingsley is a highly cited author with numerous scientific publications. He currently is a member of the Professional Physicist in South Africa. He also contributes to scientific citizenship as a reviewer. He has collaborated actively with researchers in several countries and University on condensed matter physics and material science problems.


Engr. (Dr.) Emeka Okwuosa

Engr. (Dr.) Emeka Okwuosa Emeka Okwuosa is a seasoned engineer, administrator, entrepreneur and a visionary with over 35 years of experience in the following areas: maintenance and operations, teaching, wireline logging and interpretation, seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation, pipeline engineering, procurement and construction (EPCIC), project management, drilling and drilling services. Some of these activities span Europe, North Africa, West Africa, Gulf of Guinea/Central Africa and Indonesia.

Emeka worked in various capacities for Schlumberger in positions that spanned Field Engineer to Technical Manager in the following parts of the World; Europe (Pau, France, Scotland), North Africa (Libya), West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana), Gulf of Guinea/Central Africa (Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Gabon, Congo and Angola) and Indonesia. He is passionate about development of human capacity in high technology areas of Oil and Gas Industry. This is being achieved via various schemes that have been instituted through the companies that he has founded and runs.

Together with other key practitioners in the Oil and Gas Engineering, Exploration and Production sectors, Emeka was instrumental to the enactment of Oil and Gas Local Content Law three years ago. This Law has helped to institutionalize the development of sustainable local capacity in the Oil & Gas industry.

Emeka is the founder and CEO of Oilserv Group of Companies. He is a COREN (Council for the Regulation of Engineering) registered engineer, and a member of the following Professional bodies:

  • Society of Professional Well Log Analysts (SPWLA)
  • Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN)
  • Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN)
  • Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE)
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
  • Nigerian Gas Association (NGA)
  • Institute of Directors (IoD)

Prof. Aziz Amine

Prof. Aziz Amine Prof. Aziz Amine is a professor of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco. He obtained a Ph.D. in 1993, from the Free University of Brussels. His research interests are focused on the following areas:

  • Sensors and their use in analytical chemistry
  • Biosensor and their use in analytical chemistry

Prof. Amine is the Chair of the International Workshop “Biosensors for Food Safety and Environmental Monitoring” organized every two years in Morocco (www.biocap.ma). He is a reviewer for several scientific international journals, as well as the Editor of Biosensors & Bioelectronics journal (IF 7.8).


Prof. Afam I.O. Jideani

Prof. Afam I.O. Jideani Afam is a professor of Food Science and Technology (FST) at the University of Venda (Univen), South Africa where he is also the Partnerships & Internationalisation Champion: School (Faculty) of Agriculture. He obtained his PhD from the University of Leeds, UK in 1994 and postdoctoral fellowship in Kagoshima, Japan in 1995. He became full professor in 1999 before taking up Director of Research and Development at the National Food Technology Research Centre Botswana (2006). As a National Research Foundation (South Africa) rated scientist, he has supervised and mentored several postgraduate students three of whom are now full professors in FST. His research in FST has focused on plant foods. With over 130 publications in scientific journals, book, book chapters and conference proceedings; he is the leader of the Plant Food Processing for Bio-economy research group at Univen. The group’s research focuses on processing and technology of plant foods in the following but not exhaustive areas: survey of plant-based indigenous foods and knowledge systems, value addition to indigenous plant-based foods for food security, functional food ingredients in food systems and food biotechnology. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. He is also a professional member of the following scientific bodies:

  • South African (SA) Association of Food Technologists,
  • American Association of Cereal Chemists International,
  • Institute of Food Technologists
  • ISEKI Food Association (IFA), as well as the South Africa (SA) country representative of IFA.

Prof. Omotayo Arotiba

Prof. Omotayo Arotiba Omotayo Arotiba received his PhD in 2009 at SensorLab, University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa. He carried out some postdoctoral research with three institutions from 2009 to 2010: SensorLab (UWC); Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town and the University of Johannesburg. He joined the Department of Applied Chemistry (now Department of Chemical Sciences), University of Johannesburg (UJ) South Africa in 2011 where he is currently a full Professor and the Director of the Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research. Prof Arotiba is the current Chairman of the Electrochemistry Division (ElectrochemSA) of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) and he is a SACI Board member. He is a C1 rated researcher by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

He leads the Electrochemistry Research Group at UJ. His research interest is on the application of electrochemistry to solving challenges in environmental, water, materials and biomedical fields. His focus includes (but not limited to) the development of photo-electrochemical water treatment technologies; electrochemical sensors & biosensors; materials electrochemistry and nano-electrochemistry.

Prof Arotiba has published 121 papers with h index of 31 and over 3882 citations. He has graduated 12 PhDs and 19 MSc (15 with distinction) students. He is an Editorial Board Member of Frontiers in Sensor (Associate Editor), Current NanoScience and Materials Focus Journal. He has been a Guest Editor for Electrocatalysis (2018) and Electroanalysis (2020) and currently for Catalysis (2021). He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), International Society of Electrochemistry and a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria.


Dr. G.H. Jain

Dr. G.H. Jain Dr. Gotan Hiralal Jain is the Principal at S.N.J.B.’s K.K.H.A. Arts, S.M.G.L. Commerce and S.P.H.J. Science College, Chandwad, India. He completed his Ph.D. on Gas Sensors in 2007. His areas of research are thin and thick films gas sensors, synthesis of nanomaterials by various techniques for gas sensor applications. He has delivered talks at various National and International conferences, few of them are: ICST-2007, Massey University, New Zealand, MS&T-2008, Pittsburgh, USA, EUOROMAT-2009, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, MINM-2010, CMRD Institute, Cairo, Egypt, ICST-2011, Palmerston North, New Zealand and ICPAC-2012, Mauritius, Trinity College, Dublin and Stoney Brooke University, Long Island, USA-2015. He also presented research papers at MRS-2013, Adis Ababa, Ethiopia and at University of Nigeria, Nsuka. His talk has been appreciated in ICST-2010 and ICST-2011 New Zealand and Italy respectively. He has published around 70 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, won 5 awards for oral/poster presentations in various national/international symposia. His two reference books are published by Lambert Publishing House, Germany. He has contributed chapters in book series published by Springer-Verlag. Eight students are working under his supervision for Ph.D. degree, six awarded Ph.D. degree, and for six he is working as a Co-guide. He is a reviewer for various international referred journals of Elsevier and Springer. He is honored by University of Pune as a ‘BEST Teacher’ for his contribution in research. He is nominated for BHASKAR RAI award, given by Indian Physics Teachers Association. Recently he is awarded as an ‘Ideal Teacher’ in the University of Pune region by the Government of Maharashtra with the hands of Governor of state.

Prof. CMI Okoye

Prof. CMI Okoye Prof. Chukwuemeka Madubuko Ijeoma Okoye received his academic training at the University of Nigeria. He joined the services of the University in March 1988. He has served the University as Head of Department, Associate Dean and Dean of Faculty as well as in several other ad hoc and statutory committees.

His research interest is primarily in the field of theoretical solid state physics especially in the areas of lattice dynamics, superconductivity and electronic structure studies. He has published in reputable international and local journals. He has also benefited from some academic fellowships and attended several conferences, schools and workshops that have provided quality academic exposure both locally and internationally. Prof. Okoye is married with children.


Dr. Nicholas Igwe

Dr. Nicholas Igwe Dr Nicholas Igwe is a renowned scholar and professional in Water Engineering. He is also the Director and Shareholder of Zenith Business Link (South Africa), Zenith Polymer Technology (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa). His forward-thinking nature has led him to build an impressive career in the Water Engineering and Science fields.

In the course of his career, he worked extensively with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South Africa (CSIR) where he was part of inventions that affixed Global patents to his name (WO2000033673A1).

He was instrumental to the patented Artificial Liver Assist Device where he outstandingly used polymer membranes for the encapsulation of hepatocytes which gave him different awards. His dedication and innovative style of work has made him the recipient of the prestigious African Water Leadership Award in 2015 and 2017.

He has published many papers and has also been invited to be the main speaker of many international conferences

He is a member of The Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), Texas USA, and The Plastic Institute of South Africa (PISA).


Dr. Cynthia Bedell

Dr. Cynthia Bedell As the director for the U. S. Army Research Lab (ARL) Computational & Information Sciences Directorate, Cynthia Bedell is responsible for basic and applied research Network and Information Sciences, Cyber Defense, High Performance Computing, and Battlefield Environments. She has technical oversight of the state-of-the art high performance computing assets, computational capabilities, and wide area networking methodologies for ARL, the Department of the Army, and the Department of Defense. ARL is the U.S. Army’s corporate laboratory, strategically placed within the Army Futures Command (AFC). ARL’s mission is to “Discover, innovate, and transition science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power”.

Previously, as the Regional Lead for ARL West, Cindy Bedell established the first extended campus for the US Army Research Lab to make ARL and its researchers more accessible to academics as well as business research leaders on the west coast. The drive is to establish mutually beneficial S&T collaborations particularly in the field of Human Information Interaction. While serving as acting Director, Computational and Information Sciences Directorate, she focused on guiding scientific discovery, technological innovation, and transition of knowledge products within the research areas of network, computational, information, and meteorological sciences especially as it impacts the Army’s future mission capabilities. When she joined CISD in 2014, Ms. Bedell served as the Associate Directorate for Science and Technology as well as the collaborative alliance manager for the Multi-scale Materials Enterprise.

Cindy Bedell brings with her 30 years of military experience. Prior to her military retirement, Colonel Bedell led the US Army RDECOM Forward Element Command – Atlantic in searching across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, for applicable technologies to support current and future warfighters. She also served as the Director of Science and Technology Support for APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE MM.YYYY U.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY Current Operations for the System of Systems Integration Office, U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM). In this role, she helped develop science and technology strategies to allow the Army to address technology shortfalls in current and future war-fighting systems. As Product Manager, Sensors and Lasers, Colonel Bedell was responsible for the Soldier-borne night vision devices, thermal sensors and sights, and laser pointers, rangefinders and designators. She accelerated the engineering design cycles for a number of systems; to include the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle and the 25 micron Vanadium Oxide based Thermal Weapons Sight.

She earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She served as Assistant Professor in the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department at the United States Military Academy. She attended the University of Texas, as an Army Senior Service College Fellow. She holds United States Patent 5,413,649, with Dr. David Dunand for a method to enhance superplasticity for ease in forming complex composites in materials that undergo phase transformation.


Prof. Hubert Gijzen

Prof. Hubert Gijzen Prof. Hubert Gijzen holds a PhD in Environmental Biotechnology, and has an established career of over 34 years in both academics and in international cooperation. He has worked in academic institutions and universities, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Embassies and in International Institutes abroad, and the United Nations. Throughout his career, he has lived and worked in various countries and regions in Africa, South America and Caribbean, South Asia, South-East Asia and Europe, in a range of senior functions as Full Professor and Chair in Universities, as a diplomat, Regional Representative, Team leader, and currently as UNESCO Regional Director and Representative. He has implemented short missions to over 100 countries, and has developed and managed large capacity building, research and cooperation programmes and projects, including the EU funded R&D project SWITCH on “Water in the City of the Future”, for which he served as Project Director, and which earned the IWA Sustainability Award in 2012.

Besides his current work as UNESCO Regional Director and Representative, he continues to hold positions as full Professor at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (since 1995) and at Wageningen University. Hubert has published over 400 articles and books, and presented numerous keynotes in the fields of water management, microbiology, environmental sciences, biotechnology, and sanitary and environmental engineering. He also covered topics on international cooperation, sustainable development, the MDGs, SDGs and climate change. He serves in various international advisory functions and on Boards of prestigious Institutes and programmes.

Hubert Gijzen joined UNESCO in 2006 as Director of the UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, based in Jakarta. Besides, he was the UNESCO Representative for Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste. Since 1 January 2015, Hubert was appointed as the Regional Director of the newly established UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare and UNESCO Representative to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and to SADC. He also serves on the UN Regional Directors team for Eastern and Southern Africa (UNDG-ESA).


Dr. Jonathan Brame

Dr. Jonathan Brame Dr. Brame is the Team Lead for Basic & Applied Research (BAR) for CCDC Atlantic, coordinating international fundamental research between universities and Army Labs & Centers. The BAR Team includes staff from CCDC International Technology Centers (UK, NE, SE), Army Research Office, and matrixed scientists and Engineers from throughout CCDC with a mission to identify, advance, and transition fundamental science and technologies that contribute to Army Modernization and prepare the US DoD for the battlefields of the future.

Previously, Dr. Brame spent two years at the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASAALT), working in Research and Technology. Dr. Brame worked across the entire Army S&T portfolio, including serving as the Deputy Portfolio Director for Network and Environment & Terrain. He also served as the Army representative to the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program Advisory Panel, providing direction from the Executive Steering Group to the Program. Dr. Brame was the liaison to ASAALT from the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), guiding the ERDC through the implementation of the Army Modernization Priorities, Cross Functional Teams, Night Court, and standup of the Army Futures Command.

During his time at ERDC, Dr. Brame was the team lead for the Materials Science team in the Chemistry Branch of ERDC’s Environmental Lab. Dr. Brame led an interdisciplinary team studying applications and environmental health and safety implications of advanced materials and nanomaterials for the Army. He formed and served on the board of the Interagency Water Treatment Working Group with scientists from 10+ federal agencies and departments.

Dr. Brame’s degrees are in Physics (BS from Brigham Young University) and Civil & Environmental Engineering (PhD from Rice University), and he has more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and has presented at dozens of research conferences and scientific meetings.


Prof. Winston Soboyejo

Prof. Winston Soboyejo Wole Soboyejo received his BSc degree in mechanical engineering from King’s College London in 1985. He then went on to receive a PhD in materials science from Cambridge University in 1988. After four years of working at the McDonnell Douglas Research Labs (1988-1992) and the Edison Welding Institute (1992), Soboyejo joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University, where he was an Assistant Professor between 1992 and 1996, and an Associate Professor between 1996 and 1999. From 1997 to 1998, Soboyejo spent a sabbatical year as a Visiting Martin Luther King Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT.

His early work at McDonnell Douglas, The Ohio State University and MIT focused mostly on the development of novel and robust aerospace materials. He also developed fracture mechanics models for the prediction of failure due to fatigue and fracture. In 1999, Soboyejo moved to Princeton University as a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a Professor of Materials in the Princeton Institute of Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM). At Princeton, he broadened the scope of his work to include the development of biomedical devices (dental implants, cardiovascular stents, and nanotechnology for cancer detection and treatment); novel processes for the fabrication of Light Emitting Devices and solar cells, and mechanics and materials models for the design of robust Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) structures/thin films, porous/cellular materials, ceramic water filters and sustainable building materials.

In 2011, he was appointed as Vice President for Academics, Research and Innovation at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, Nigeria. In this role, he introduced interdisciplinary programs in science, technology and innovation. Subsequently, he served as President and Provost of AUST between 2012 and 2014. During this period, he developed the Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI), which was one of the African Centers of Excellence that was funded by the World Bank. Soboyejo returned to Princeton as a Professor between 2014 and 2016. He then moved to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) as the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering (2016-2018). As Dean of Engineering, Soboyejo introduced interdisciplinary communities in Materials and Manufacturing, Bio-X and the Smart World. Since September of 2018, he has served as Senior Vice President and Provost at WPI. He has also helped to establish the Global School at WPI. Soboyejo is a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a Fellow of the Materials Society of Nigeria, a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, and a Fellow of the African Academy of Science.


Prof. Talha Khalil

Prof. Talha Khalil Dr. Ali Talha Khalil, is an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology, in Qarshi University, Lahore, Pakistan; with diverse expertise in synthesis and applications of nanomaterials. His research revolve around the biomedical, photocatalytic and energy storage applications of the biogenic nanomaterials.

He also possesses expertise in medicinal plant biotechnology and health security. As of today, he has more than 70 international peer reviewed and impact factor publications, along with 7 book chapters.

He is also the Fellow of the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, and Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET). He was selected as a member of the International Society of Science Engineering and Technology, UK.


Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu was born on July 20, 1953 to the family of Chief B.U.B (late) and Nneoma Dora Anyanwu (late) in Emeabiam, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. She graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a BSc in Zoology. She obtained her MSc Fisheries (major in Aquaculture) from the University of Philippines, Iloilo. She is a firm believer in Continuing education which made her to go back to the University of Ibadan in 2016 for her Master’s in Public Health, MPH in Health Promotion and Education (graduation in-view).

She is the Founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading NGO that is galvanizing action against breast cancer in Nigeria through Public Education, Patients Support, Advocacy and Research. BRECAN was founded in 1997 after her experience with Breast Cancer. She saw the need to do something that will bring about a positive lasting change in the Nigerian Society that was deeply entrenched in the misconceptions of what causes breast cancer and how it can be treated. She has won several awards both locally and internationally for her work and commitment to the fight against Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

With her unprecedented Humanitarian disposition and concern for family and societal development, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has given herself in service to others through her Foundation, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) so as to touch more lives.

She displayed passion in advancing and promoting literacy in children through programmes such as Reading Is Fun, essay competitions, and Spelling Bee competitions. She is also committed to the advancing the economic status of women, nurturing the interest of young girls in ICT and Solar Energy technology in order to bridge the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), developing talents in arts and sports, promotion of improved sanitization in schools and communities and inclusive qualitative education for the deaf.

Furthermore, she has singlehandedly championed greater participation of women in politics at all levels as well as promote gender equity in governance.

In 2017, she launched a Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200million) crowd funding project to provide financial aid to indigent breast cancer patients in Nigeria.

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is a commercial Fish Farmer who also provides consultancy services under the business name Aquatek Farms Ventures. She nurtured her career as a Fisheries expert while working with the Federal Department of Fisheries and retired Voluntarily after 28 years of diligent service.

In addition, she has made a foray into politics since 2007 and is very active in the present dispensation.

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has received several awards for her dedication and selfless service to humanity both at home and abroad. Worthy of mention are:

  • Award by the prestigious Harvard University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to cancer awareness and advocacy (2018)
  • The Platinum Award as “The Champion of Humanity” by the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper in Commemoration of its 70th anniversary (2019)
  • “Woman of the Year” (2021) by African Women Industrialization Awards (AWIA)

Betty is married to Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the current Executive Governor of Ondo State, and is blessed with four wonderful children and four grandchildren. She is widely travelled and her hobbies include reading, gardening, sewing, music, jogging, tennis and yoga.


Dr. Muhammad Shafiq Ahmed

Dr. Muhammad Shafiq Ahmed Dr. Muhammad Shafiq Ahmed is currently the Head, Department of Physics, University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. He holds a PhD in Physics from University of Western Ontario, London Canada, M.Sc. Materials Science from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Canada and M.Sc. Physics from University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Prior to joining University of Kotli, he served in University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Muscat, Oman and King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Shafiq has won two competitive research projects (worth more than $100,000) from Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in 2017 and 2018-2021, to develop and strengthen Research Lab at Physics Department, University of Kotli AJK. During his study in Canada he received, Graduate thesis research award (2013), University of Western Ontario, Canada, Best Poster Award, Canadian Association of Physics (CAP), CAP Congress-2012, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Western Graduate Research Scholarship (Physics) UWO, Canada, 2009. Western Graduate Scholarship (Science), UWO, London ON, Canada, 2009. Graduate Student Scholarship from TD Canada Financial Group, 2009, Canada and Continuing Graduate Student Scholarship, Graduate Studies, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa ON, Canada.

Dr. Shafiq has supervised more than 10 M.Phil. students and presented his work in national and international conferences and journals. His field of interest is carbon-based nanomaterials, optoelectronic materials, and materials for energy storage.


Dr. Kaviyarasu Kasinathan

Dr. Kaviyarasu Kasinathan Dr. Kaviyarasu Kasinathan is a material scientist currently working as a Senior Researcher at University of South Africa (UNISA) under UNESCO Africa Chair in Nanosciences/Nanotechnology category. His contribution in the field of functional materials for energy, bio-catalysis and supercapacitor applications have generated new knowledge and delivered 185 peer reviewed publications and 40 oral/invited presentations at various international conferences. His research excellence is evident through a strong publication record (H-index 55; >8300 citation). In addition, Clarivate Web of Science identified him for the Highly Cited Researchers 2020 list.

His research is focused on the design and development of advanced materials for low carbon emission technologies which plays a key role to mitigate climate change. His research activities include surface science of catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and hierarchical nanostructures for tissue engineering and bio interfaces.


Samson Bada

Samson Bada I am the Interim Research Leader for the DSI/NRF SARChI Clean Coal Technology (CCT) of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. My goal in terms of research is to establish innovative solutions for the clean and responsible production and utilization of South Africa’s unique coal as the country and the world moves towards the Just Transition.

The major themes of my research have been coal science and technology, mineral/ore beneficiation and renewable energy (biomass & RDF utilization). More recently, I have focussed on the advancement of low-emissions power generation technologies with specific application to South Africa and developing high-value low-volume carbon products from coal and biomass.

My earliest research involved corrosion followed by fly ash utilization, and detailed characterisation and performance testing of a wide range of coals using innovative analytical and beneficiation technologies. The aim was to achieve the best possible quality products for use in both currently operating boiler plant as well as the new advanced and cleaner coal-fired power generation technologies of the future. For the above purposes, I have utilized a range of specialised separation and concentration technologies (wet and dry) to test South Africa coals, both in South Africa and in the University of Kentucky, USA. One technology, the “Tribo-electrostatic separator” was, specifically designed and built for fine coal dry beneficiation during my post-doctoral research, with a second dry coal beneficiation separator “Windsifter” designed and fabricated in 2020.

More recent work has involved research and development in hybridisation technologies in which the poor-grade coals are co-fired with different forms of biomass “Bamboo and refuse derived fuels” (a renewable and sustainable energy source) leading to low-carbon (CO2). In addition, results from biomass research to date have led to the production of pelletized hydrochar/fine coal “biocoal” as a valuable clean energy resource and the susceptibility of the products to spontaneous combustion. Linked to understanding the likely behaviour of coal and its components in a variety of situations throughout the coal value chain as led to the research on the upgrade of specific coals as “coking coal” for metallurgical application. The additional research within the SARChI CTC GROUP, which I lead aims to further enhance the contribution of coal to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (clean and affordable energy), while utilizing South Africa’s high ash discard coal for non-energy applications. This includes high quality and low volume products, such as activated carbon for gas storage, Super-capacitors for energy storage, ceramic coal composites, beneficiation and recovery of rare earth elements using the integration of different techniques from unique South African coal etc.

In each category of Clean Coal Technology (CCT) research. I have acquired valuable experience as well as imparted that expertise to my students, with over 20 postgraduates to completion and 23 on-going.


Dr. Nithyadharseni Palaniyandy

Dr. Nithyadharseni Palaniyandy Dr. Nithyadharseni Palaniyandy is currently working as a Senior Researcher at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa. She obtained her Ph.D. from India (2012), in the broad field of physics, which includes materials science and electrochemistry, on “nanostructured battery materials for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries”. Her main research interests are developing and optimizing advanced electrode materials for energy storage applications such as secondary-ion batteries (Lithium-, Sodium- and Zinc-ion batteries) and super capacitors including novel methods of synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the electrochemical properties in half/full-cell assemblies.

She has published more than 35 articles in various international journals and presented in 30 national/international conferences. She has h-index; 18 and around 950 citations. She is co-supervising and mentoring Masters and Ph.D. students on the area of lithium-ion batteries, super-capacitors and fuel-cells.


Prof. Oussama Moutanabbir

Prof. Oussama Moutanabbir Oussama Moutanabbir is a Full Professor of Engineering Physics, holding a Canada Research Chair in Nanoscale and Quantum Semiconductors. Before taking the position in Montreal, he was Project Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Germany) and held a joint appointment as Invited Researcher at RIKEN Institute of Advanced Science (Japan). Since 2014 he has been a visiting professor at Northwestern University Center for Atom Probe Tomography.

His research in materials physics and engineering includes fundamental scientific and technological activities. His work on fundamental subjects enabled an atomistic-level understanding of the basic physical properties of a variety of nanoscale and quantum structures and interfaces as well as the elucidation of the mechanisms governing their growth and fabrication. He also made significant contributions at the industrial level through numerous joint collaborations with high-tech companies focusing primarily on large scale integration of devices and on developing materials for cost-effective and high-performance optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and electronic technologies. He has been playing leadership roles in the International Union of Materials Research Societies and is a coordinator of the Global Materials Network – a platform for researchers from around the world to communicate and collaborate in materials research and education. He filed 5 patents on wafer-scale integration of optoelectronic materials, quantum engineering, and mid-infrared imaging. He is currently leading a national network on compact mid-infrared and terahertz photonics funded by Defence Canada through its program Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security. His collaborative work with Université de Sherbrooke and Teledyne-Dalsa, leading to the development and commercialization of uncooled thermal cameras, received the 2015 ADRIQ’s Innovation Award, the 2015 ADRIQ’s University-Industry Partnership Award, and the 2019 NSERC’s Synergy Award.

He is also the founder of Wáhta Semiconductors Inc. – a Startup developing infrared sensing and communication technologies.


Prof. Santato Clara

Prof. Santato Clara Clara Santato is Full Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at Polytechnique Montréal. She earned her PhD degree in chemistry (“Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured WO3 Films as Photoanodes in Photoelectrochemical Devices”) in 2001 from the Université de Genève and her MSc degree (“Electropolymerization and Photopolymerization of a Pyrrole-Substituted Ruthenium tris (bipyridyl) Complex”) in chemistry in 1995 from Università degli Studi di Bologna. The experimental work was carried out in collaboration with Université J. Fourier. She was a (permanent) research scientist at the Institute for Nanostructured Materials, part of the Italian National Research Council, from 2001 to 2011, and a visiting scientist (2007–2010) at Cornell University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Malliaras Laboratory for Organic Electronics). In 2006, she was a visiting scientist with a cross-appointment between the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique and McGill University (Chemistry), and in 2005, at Purdue University (Chemistry).

Santato’s research focuses on semiconducting films and their interfaces with metal electrodes and electrolytes, for applications in transistors and energy conversion/storage, and has been recently recognized by her elevation to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) senior membership. With her group, she recently expanded her research interests to green electronic and energy-storage devices.

Santato is a member of the UNESCO MATECSS (Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Saving and Storage) Chair. She serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Power Sources (Elsevier).

Source: Polytechnique Montréal


Prof. Florian Stadler

Prof. Florian Stadler Dr. Florian Stadler is distinguished professor for materials science in Shenzhen University, which he joined in 2014.

He received his PhD in 2007 from Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany under the supervision of Prof. Helmut Münstedt. Prof. Stadler focuses on experimental rheology among other techniques for polymer chemistry and physics.

Research focuses on polymer melts and ionomers as well as polymers, polymer solutions and gels with covalent and supramolecular interactions. Of special interest to him are functional polymers enabling sensing and stimuli responsiveness. Furthermore, Prof. Stadler is also involved in nanoparticle synthesis and applications, especially for solar cells, photocatalysis, and sensors.

Source: Stadler Lab


Prof. Hendry Elim

Prof. Hendry Elim Assoc. Prof. H.I. Elim is a creative Indonesian physicist with a theoretical physics background (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) from two of the best Indonesian universities of Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), respectively. Furthermore, He has conducted a series of multitasking scientific development of nanoscience, nanotechnology and herbal nanomedicine in the last 21 years with a distinguished 6 years research background in his Ph.D. and postdoctoral works at NUS, Singapore as well as his 4.5 years position as a research professor in a mega-project of super-hybrid materials at Tohoku university, Japan.

In addition, Dr. Elim, the founder of the first nanotechnology research center and innovative creation (PPNRI) in the eastern part of Indonesia has educated over 75 physics research students in the last 6 years as soon as his opening of PPNRI at Pattimura university on 24th April 2015. Therefore, Dr. Elim has achieved an incredible output of over ~85 high quality works published in about 34 Q1 journals according to SINTA/ SCOPUS/ Web of Science with h index of 25 and citation of ~3578 in Google scholar.


Prof. Emeka Oguzie

Prof. Emeka Oguzie Emeka Oguzie is a Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). He received his Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from the University of Calabar. He was a visiting (CAS-TWAS) postdoctoral research fellow (2006-2007) and TWAS-UNESCO Associate (2008-2011) at the State Key Laboratory for Corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Shenyang China. He was appointed Young Affiliate of TWAS, the World Academy of Science (2007-2012). He is Fellow of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

Prof. Oguzie’s research interests span the areas of Electrochemistry/Electrochemical Technology, Environmental & Occupational Hazards Management. His research group, the Electrochemistry & Materials Science Research Unit, EMRU-FUTO is known worldwide for groundbreaking research in metal corrosion and protection. He has made outstanding pioneering contributions in the development of non-toxic, environmentally friendly anticorrosion additives from biomass extracts. Prof. Oguzie has successfully graduated 23 PhD students, with over 170 publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and some patented research findings.

Prof. Oguzie has held several administrative positions in the University including; Associate Dean, School of Science, FUTO (2008 – 2012); Member, University Senate (2008 – Present); Head, Department of Environmental Technology, FUTO (2013 – 2015), Director, Center for Research & International Development, FUTO (2015-2017), Dean, School of Environmental Sciences at FUTO (2017-2019), Center Leader, Africa Center of Excellence in Future Energies & Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS; 2019 – present) and has recently been appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Development, and Innovation. He has garnered some experience working in industry, having been engaged as Research Advisor (Health, Safety & Environment) Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria (2012 – 2013).

Prof. Oguzie is the founder of the multidisciplinary Electrochemical Energy, Interfaces and Nanotechnology (EMINeNT) Research Consortium, which attracted the World Bank funding for the establishment of the Africa Center of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS) at the Federal University of Technology Owerri. He is married to Dr. Kanayo L. Oguzie and they have two sons, Chiagozie & Chizaram.