By Ikenna Nwokedi

A University Don, Dr. Charles Chikwendu Okpala has emerged the winner of the Isambard Kingdom Brunel (IKB) Fellowship for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Dr. Okpala who emerged the winner from a pool of numerous academics who applied for the fellowship from all over the globe, is a Reader (Associate Professor) of Production Engineering and Management Systems, in the Department of Industrial/Production Engineering, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. 

The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Fellowship is anchored by the Brunel Fellowship Academy, University of Brunel, London in the United Kingdom. The programme is aimed at fostering high-quality collaboration between the Fellows and Brunel academics, boosting the Fellow’s publications and grant applications, as well as raising the fellow’s profile, by expanding their network and broadening their experience of collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

The UNIZIK Don who is already at the University of Brunel is currently focusing on a research work titled: “Deployment and Assessment of Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) in Tertiary Hospitals.” 

Dr. Okpala's research interest focuses on Production Engineering and Management System with interest in Lean Production System, Total Productive Maintenance, Composites, Nanocomposites, as well as Manufacturing Processes’ Optimization. The scholar who recently embarked on research in the application of artificial intelligence to manufacturing and digital healthcare is set to present his research paper titled, "Development of Coir Reinforced Composite for Automotive Parts Application” at the World Academy of Science and Engineering Technology (WASET) Conference, in London on 27th July, 2024.

The University Don recently initiated and supervised a project code-named ‘Trizik’ and titled “Design and Fabrication of an Optimized Load-Bearing Tricycle” which took the first and second positions in the South East region and Nigeria respectively, at CODET Engineering competition during the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN) Assembly.

The outstanding scholar who is currently the Coordinator of Production Technology Department in the University expressed gratitude to God and the leadership of the University under the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Esimone for the conducive environment created in the Ivory Tower towards the pursuit of academic excellence. 

The young and vibrant scholar has assured his students and mentees at UNIZIK that he would continue to be in touch with them, while affirming his determination towards making the University proud by being a good ambassador.

Hitherto, Okpala bagged his PhD in Production Engineering and Management Systems from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UNIZIK Business School. He also bagged his Master of Science in Engineering Business Management from Warwick manufacturing Group in the University of Warwick, Coventry, England. He finished with a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical/Production Engineering from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

A Fellow at IKB is entitled to an all-expense paid trip, which entails free on-Campus Accommodation at Lancaster Hotel and Spa, Free Return Flight Tickets, Full Conference Sponsorship, Visa Fees Payments, as well as daily Stipends.