AE-FUNAI GRADUATES FIRST POSTGRADUATE (PHD) STUDENT OF THE INSTITUTION
History was made on 15th June, 2023 as the School of Postgraduate Studies, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, graduated its first PhD Student , Dr. Henry Okemiri, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Physical Sciences of the institution.

Reminiscing on his accomplishments , .Dr. Okemiri said that it wasn’t an easy journey but God made it possible through his infinite mercy and grace.


Dr. Henry Okemiri celebrating his feat after the PhD. thesis oral defence
He noted that his postgraduate studies commenced in October 2018 and ended in June 2023, stressing that the programme lasted for that long due to the Covid-19 pandemic that led to a total shutdown of human activities and the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU ) and other university-based staff unions.

Speaking, further Dr Okemiri thanked the Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Prof Chukwunonso E.C.C Ejike and his supervisor, Dr. Uzoma Rita Alo for their professional input and encouragement all through the period of his study, adding that without their contributions, it would have been difficult to attain such a height.

While advising other PhD students, he averred that AE-FUNAI is the best University in the southeast of Nigeria to purse their postgraduate studies as the institution adheres strictly to its academic calendar, and does not encourage delay of any kind in its academic activities, adding that the University also boasts of competent, passionate and globally-recognized academics.

While representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom at the PhD thesis oral defence, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Abel Ezeoha, commended the work of Dr. Okemiri, titled “A Hybrid of Internet of Things and Machine Learning Orchestration for Predicting Heart Disease”, even as he advised other postgraduate students to emulate his footprints of hard work, open-mindedness and willingness to learn and tbe taught which made him to become the first graduating PhD student of the university.

Dr. Okemiri designed a system for predicting heart diseases with the application of machine learning and internet of things that is both efficient with high-level accuracy. He also implemented an IoT-Based machine learning ECG classification system and provided a localized solution of internet of things and machine learning for remote people through data collected from local people using wearable sensors.


Dr. Henry Okemiri in a group photograph with the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Chukwunonso E.C.C Ejike (3rd L), Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Femi Adeyeye, (4th R) Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Smart Otu (2nd L) and others after the thesis defence