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By Fidel Ozugha

Recently, the second edition of Ezekwe-Barberopoulos-Obikwelu otherwise called EBO Honorary Public Lecture was held at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Power House in Zambezi Crescent , Maitama, Abuja, FCT.

It was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Material (NIMMME) which is branch of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). NIMMME is also called 3M with the slogan Custodians of Shaping the World.

President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, FNSE, was the chairman of the occasion. The immediate past chairman of Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Ali Rabiu, MFR and Deputy President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Oguntala FRSE, were both the Special Guests of Honour.

Also to play an outstanding role in the August gathering was the Director of Research in National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Headquarters Industrial District, Abuja, Prof. Abdulmalik Ibrahim Onuwe who was the Guest Lecturer. One of the three celebrants, Prof. D.O.N. Obikwelu of University of Nigeria Nsukka was Honourary Lecturer. The MD of Nigerian Foundries Limited, Lagos, Mr Vassily Barberopoulos son of Romeo Barberopoulos, was the Keynote Speaker.

Others that stood out to shape the event as designed and desired were Engr. Oji Ugoji fnse who headed the Local Organising Committee (LOC), National Chairman of NIMMME, Engr. Prof. Aje Tokan, mnse as the Chief Host; the Coordinator of the EBO Honourary Lecture Committee was Engr. Michael Orekyen mnse, while Engrs. Sunday Agbalajobi fnse and Kennedy Ibechem FNSE were both the Co-Chairmen of AGM and Members Induction. Engr. ChinasaokwuOkorie MNSE, was the Chairman of the Fellowship Conferment Ceremony (FCC) organizing Committee while Mr. Diran Onifade moderated the scintillating event.

The celebrated late Prof. Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe who was born in May 10, 1929 and died in June 25, 1997, was the the first Nigerian to be awarded a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He was a foremost professor of Mechanical Engineering in Nigeria having armed himself with B.Sc., Ph.D., Honorary D.Sc. and Honorary D.Tech.

An illustrious son of Abagana, headquarters of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, young Gordian attended St. Mark’s Primary School Abagana 1938-40, St. Bartholomew’s School, Nimo, 1940-43, St. Patrick’s College, Calabar, 1943-47, University of Ibadan (then University College), Ibadan 1947-50, University Swansea, Wales, 1951-54, King’s College, London, 1956-59.

The President, Umuada Abagana National Association, Iyom Dr (Mrs) Ajia Ougua Agagbo receives the Post-Humous Award on behalf of the Ezekwe family.

On coming back to Nigeria, he was a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria between 1962-63 before moving over to Ahmadu Bello University also in Zaria between 1962-63. He was a visitng lecturer in University of Sheffield, UK, 1963-64. Between 1964-67, Ezekwe was a Senior Lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also occupied that same position in the University of Nigeria Nsukka between 1967-72 and became a Reader in the same University in 1972-75. He was Visiting Fellow to University of Oxford, UK, IN 1974. He was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria,Nsukka in 1976.

He became the Director of Projects Development Institute, Enugu (PRODA) 1976-1989; Chairman, Nigerian Coal Corpoation, Enugu, 1988-89. Prof. Ezekwe was a member, Nigerian Society of Engineers; member, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK, till 1952. He was the first Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering, Infrastructure (NASENI). Prof. Ezekwe was the Founder of Science Equipment Development Institute (SEDI). He had a chieftaincy title of Ezedioramma of Abagana, his community.

A cross section of the attendees l-r are Dr. Ibrahim Agava of NASENI, Mr. Vassily Barberopoulos (MD, Nigerian Foundries Ltd) and Prof Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim

received a post-humous award of Honour by formally naming of a Public Lecture after him and two others by Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Material Engineers during the ceremony. Between 1973-74, he was Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1973-74; 19745-76 and became the Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1976.

Prof. Ezekwe was revered and known for his hard work, selfless leadership and humility. He was He was an erudite scholar and impeccable professor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, distinguished Honourable Minister of Science and Technology during the Military regime of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babngida 1989-91. He was an epitome of solid and uncanny integrity and an apostle of transparent honesty. Gordian was an advocate of do-it-yourself.

Prof D. O. N. Obikwelu, Foundation Head and Professor, the Department of Met/Mat Engineering, Co-Ordinator, Nanotechnology Group, UNN.

Born in September 9, 1952, Prof. Daniel Oraegbuna Nnamdi (D. O. N.) Obikwelu is of Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He has B.Sc (Hons) Second Class (Upper) UNN with scholarship in 1975. He had M.S. (with merit award) in Metallurgical Engineering, Wayne University, Detroit, Michigan USA, He got scholarship in 1979 and passed with a merit award as the best MSMet.Eng Graduate.

Prof. D. O. N. Obikwelu got his Ph.D (Metallurgy), Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Michigan University USA with scholarship and an American Navy Fellowship in 1982, and got elected into Sigma X1 Honour Research Society for outstanding Research Potential. He became a scholar to the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1966-1970 and 1976-1981

Prof Obikwelu has many professional certifications. He is COREN registered engineer (R. 4002) in 1990. Then in 1989, he became a Fellow of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (FNMS). He became a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) in 2002. Going further, in 2014 he became a Fellow of African Scientific Society (FASI). Between 2000 and 2010, he was teaching in tertiary institutions like Robert Gordon University, SHELL Petroleum Development Company Intensive Postgraduate Training in Engineering.

The celebrant Obikwelu has lectured in many universities both in Nigeria and outside: Federal University of Technology, Owerri; University of Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, among others. Prof. Obikwelu was the Foundation Head and Professor in the Department of Met/Mat Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Co-ordinator, Nanotechnology Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an invited Professor and Researcher of international repute.

Mr Romeo Barberopoulos came to Nigeria from Greece, in 1957, working for the Leventis Group. He had done studies in Accounting. In 1967 he was the 1st to set up a plastic injection molding shoe company called Industrial Applications Ltd. In 1969, Romeo and his brother John Barberopoulos set up Nigerian Foundries Ltd as a small grey iron foundry. John had done engineering studies and had worked in a foundry in the then country of Czechkoslovakia.

Together they built, in Nigeria the first cupola oven. Their inspiration came from the fact that Nigeria was a very young country and they knew that no country could succeed and prosper without a viable foundry industry to support all manufacturing activities. Romeo, who became a Nigerian in the early seventies, passed on in 2012 at the age of 80.

Prof Onwue Abdulmalik Ibrahim fielding questions with the press at the occasion

He was awarded by President Obasanjo the National Award of Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his work in Conservation of Nature, Export Promotion Drive and the Pastoral Resolve. John Barberopoulos passed on in 2016 at the age of 77 and had been a staunch proponent of the Foundry Association of Nigeria. The Company has moved seamlessly into the second generation, namely Vassily Oye barberopoulos (son of Romeo) and Nicholas Barberopoulos (son of John). Both Vassily and Nicholas have worked in the family business for forty and seventeen years respectively.

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