The Deputy Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-A;like, Ebonyi State, Dr. Okechukwu Pius Aghamelu has emerged as the first Nigerian Engineering geologist of the year. The coveted award was conferred on him by the Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment ((NAEGE) in September 2023, in recognition of his extraordinary performance and achievements over the years in the field of Engineering Geology in Nigeria.

The awarding association, which is a foremost professional and nationalist group of reputable Engineering Geologists and Environmental Earth Scientists registered and practicing in the academic and industrial sectors in Nigeria is affiliated to the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG) that comprises world highly-respected Engineering Geologists and Environmental Earth Scientists.


Award Plaque on display
Speaking while presenting the award to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sunday Elom, in his office, Dr. Aghamelu, noted that the award was a great feat and first of its kind in the history of the association, formed in the early 1980s, adding that it was made possible by the research, development and innovative opportunities that the Vice-chancellor had provided for him and his colleagues in line with the collective goal of making AE-FUNAI a world-class university.

He maintained that the presentation of the award to the Vice-chancellor was a mark of honour and appreciation to the university’s helmsman in particular and the university community in general, who would no doubt be inspired by it.


Dr. Okechukwu Pius Aghamelu (R) presenting his award to the VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (C) while the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences watch with keen interest


While commending Dr. Aghamelu for the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elom noted that his research output in the field of Engineering Geology has put the university in the national discourse, stressing that the award shows that academic excellence pays a premium in due time. The Vice-Chancellor further used the opportunity to urge him and other academics in the university not to rest on their oars as they strive to achieve the core mandates of teaching, research and community service, adding that his administration would continue to give them the necessary support, within the armpit of available resources, to excel in their various fields.

Dr. Aghamelu obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) Second Class Honors (upper division), in Geology & Exploration Geophysics of the Ebonyi State University in 2004. He bagged Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, both in Engineering Geology, in the years 2008 and 2013, respectively. Severally professional trainings on modern computer mapping software, data analysis, research coordination, and leadership followed in between this period and thereafter.

He is a Reader in Engineering Geology, since 1st October 2020, and the immediate past Head of Department of Geology/Geophysics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI). He is currently the Deputy Dean of Faculty of Physical Sciences. He had served, and currently serves, as a member and also chaired/chairs some important departmental, faculty, and University-wide committees previously at EBSU (where he rose from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer I between 2009 and 2014), and presently at AE-FUNAI, which he joined I 2014.



Dr. Aghamelu has successfully conducted and coordinated researches (both privately and as a team member), and equally consults for over four reputable civil and water engineering companies (within and outside southeastern Nigeria) on such areas as geotechnical site characterization, construction material assessment, and groundwater evaluation. Dr. O. P. Aghamelu has currently over 80 academic outputs (journal articles, book, book chapter, technical reports, conference proceedings and papers) to his credit. Okechukwu is a former Senior Research Advisor to the Environmental Compliance Monitoring Team of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Port Harcourt. Between June and October 2021 he served as the Pavement/Material Engineer to Enviplan Consultants Ltd, Kaduna, the supervisory consultants to the contractors of the Abakaliki Ring Road Project of the Ebonyi State Government, funded by the African Development Bank and the Islamic Bank He is a corporate member of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE), International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG), and a COMEG Registered Geoscientist. He is currently the Chairman of the Enugu Chapter of NAEGE. He served as a pioneer board member of the Young Engineering Geologists (YEG) of IAEG International Council, as one of the 3 representatives from Africa. Okechukwu has successfully supervised and graduated 5 M.Sc., 1 PGD, and about 100 undergraduate project students.



Dr. Okechukwu Pius Aghamelu received Melle Kolo Kyari (GMD NNPC) prize as the 2nd overall best in the 2020 COMEG Professional examination. He currently serves as a reviewer to many international and local journals, amongst them include; Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, Journal of African Earth Sciences, Environmental Earth Sciences, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Journal of Mining and Geology, etc. In 2021, Okechukwu spent about three months in the cities of Hamburg and Gottëngen, Germany, on the invitation of a renowned professor of Soil Science, Professor Andreas Buerkert of the University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.