Very few men who claim to be academics are worth their salt, but for a man like the managing director of the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI) in Akwuke, Enugu, Professor S.N Ndubisi, Ph.D, MNSE, COREN REG, MIEEE, in a time when academics are rarely recognized for their contributions to their immediate surroundings and their country, he really has stood out. SEDI is an institute under NASENI, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
Just as iron sharpens iron, the career academic has been in the fore-front of the nation’s push to manufacture, fashion and create the spare parts for vehicles, farming implements, laboratory equipment, industrial machine parts and contributing to a number of other aspects of the nation’s commercial and economic growth, through the formation of and sustenance of a hub for the nation’s equipment market in this information age.
Born in Mgbowo, a locale in Awgu local government area of Enugu State on August 20, 1962, Ndubisi began his academic adventures at the Awgu High School, Nenwe, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, between 1975 and 1980. After his secondary education, Ndubisi chased his dream into the citadel of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he studied from 1980 to 1985, to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Just prior to his enrolment at the Anambra State University of Science and Technology for a Master’s degree in the same course in 1988, he got a job offer as a research fellow in the same department. He rounded off in 1991, with an M.ENG.
From 1988 until 1991 when he was studying for his master’s degree, he was the director of the university’s Industrial Development Center (IDC), where he was involved in the research and development work, which included the research and development of a digital billing system for the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL); the computerization of NITEL’s operation in their Enugu zonal office; the design and development of digital (32/8 Exchange line) for the NITEL /Eagle PABX [operational at the NITEL Training School Oshodi], as well as the research and development of first indigenous computers known as ASUTECH 800 series of computers at the then Anambra State University of Science and Technology Enugu. He was still in the employ of the university when, in 2003, he earned a doctorate degree (Ph.D) in the same course, from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. After obtaining the position of head of department in 2012, Ndubisi decided to leave, in search of more challenging environment of study and to reach for higher ground. He was employed by the University of Port Harcourt as a lecturer. By the time he left three years later, he left on a high as the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Ndubisi neared his pinnacle when, after three years, he was offered the position of the managing director and chief executive officer of the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI) in Akwuke, Enugu.
It came as no surprise; the dogged man who fought all to get to the top of his field of study had more in him and he had been given the opportunity to show same, having distinguished himself.
Between 1995 and 2006, he was staff adviser to the Nigerian University Engineering Students Association (NUESA), ESUT branch and, from 1999 to 2004, he was the external examiner, of the Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. From 1995 to date, Ndubisi has been the technical director of the electrical/electronic division of the Naupan Engineering Company Limited.
Between 2000 and 2004, Ndubisi was the Head of Department, Electrical and Electronic, Engineering of the university; in 2002, he was appointed into the promotion of the interview panel for the senior staff of PRODA; in 2004, he was appointed a member of the Council Committee on Engineering Contracts, for the ESUT, Enugu.
A year after, he was appointed one of the supervisors of the projects of post-graduate students [a position he held from 2005 to 2011]. In 2006, Ndubisi was appointed an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and, two years later, he proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for a sabbatical leave.
In 2011, he was appointed an adjunct lecturer/ professor of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom – a post which he still holds till date. A year later, he was appointed the HOD, Electrical & Electronic Engineering and the Dean of the department of Engineering of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State – a post which he holds till date.
Ndubisi has been an external examiner for the UNN’s Department of Electrical Engineering’s doctorate and masters’ student (2014 to date), for the Akwa Ibom State University’s undergradutes (2015 to date), amongst many other responsibilities.
The quintessential Ndubusi has three theses and projects to his names, has written six text books, co-authored nine proceedings, had 21 of his authored and co-authored works published in a number of journals and overseen the production of power system analysis computer software packages for research and teaching.
For his undaunted progress and his stoic dedication to the development of education in his field and being the fore-front of the move towards innovation, Ndubisi was conferred with the Leadership Scorecard Performance award as an Outstanding Pillar of Innovation in Nigeria.
His work with the SEDI, Enugu and the need for the recognition of his towering academic record, as well as his indelible contributions to the development of Science and Technology in Nigeria were the major factors which made the award a clinch for him.
The Leadership Scorecard media team, led by its publisher, Humphrey Onyima, was warmly received by the management of the SEDI, headed by the recipient, Prof. S.N Ndubisi.
Ndubusi’s recognition and long-standing presence in the push for home-made innovation represents the drive of the Federal Government to industrialise the nation, one little bit at a time and to reduce, as drastically as the situation can allow, the total and embarrassing dependence of the nation’s industries on imported innovations.
Clearly, only the hopeful, convincingly truthful and those gifted with foresight to draw up and behold the nation’s giant strides when she finally masters her scientific equipment industry can really understands that Prof. S.N Ndubisi is on the cusp of something great; one which has the propensity to make the nation a true, technological great.
