Research Innovation Academy (RIA) (Cohort 2)

PROF. THOMAS STEPHEN IJIMDIYA

Prof. Thomas Stephen IJIMDIYA hails from Madagali, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

He had his basic and secondary education at the Government College Kaduna, before he proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria where he obtained his B. Eng. degree in Civil Engineering (1998). He also obtained Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2006) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Engineering (2010) at the same institution.

He started his practice as a young engineer with the Intecon Partnership Owo, Ondo State during the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps and became the recipient of the Ondo State NYSC Award (1999). Shortly after his return from Ondo state, he joined the services of an engineering consulting firm, Samaila Consultants Kaduna (1999), where he participated in several engineering projects and later left for Gauff Engeniur GmBH, a German Civil Engineering Consulting Firm (2001 – 2004). He was hired at the time as the CAD specialist and was responsible for the AutoCAD designs and the hydraulics and hydrology of water infrastructure.
Prof. T. S. Ijimdiya has so far written over 110 engineering design reports as part of his community services.

He has published over 166 publications in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Some of his publications have been presented at several conferences both at local and international levels (University of Pennsylvania, USA, 2014, GeoChina, 2021, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2021). He received the best paper award presented at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (2019). He has successfully supervised 10 PhD students and 18 MSc students. He is presently supervising 5 PhD students and 2 MSc students.

He is presently a visiting Professor with the Taraba State University, Jalingo since 2019.

Prof. T. S. Ijimdiya has served in Ahmadu Bello Universiry, Zaria as:
• Departmental Assistant Examinations Officer (2002 – 2005),
• Departmental Officer in charge of computers/Internet Matters (2002- Present),
• Departmental Examinations Officer (2005-2008),
• Departmental Students Welfare Officer (2009 – 2010),
• Departmental Time Table Officer (2009 – 2010),
• Departmental Staff Welfare Officer (2010 – 2011),
• Faculty Representative on Centre for Energy Research and Training (2010 – 2012),
• Assistant Faculty Examinations Officer (2010 – 2012),
• Faculty of Engineering Representative on the Board of Faculty of Environmental Design (2012 – 2018),
• Departmental Postgraduate Studies Coordinator (2015- 2018) and  Departmental Quality Assurance Officer (2015 – 2018).
• He equally served in several committees as member and chairman in the department, faculty and the University.
Prof. T. S. Ijimdiya was the pioneer Head of Department of the Civil Engineering department, Greenfield University, Kaduna.

His research output has attracted an international collaboration with SINOMA, a subsidiary of
China National Building Material Group leading to the establishment of a Muti-disciplinary Research Laboratory to be built by the Chinese government in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria commencing in 2024.

His present research interest includes, solutions to geo-environmental problems, characterization and reuse of contaminated soils, Biological processes in geotechnical engineering and Electrochemical remediation of contaminated soils.

Prof. T. S. Ijimdiya has participated in several engineering projects within and outside Nigeria e.g, Ghana (design of irrigation schemes in the Ho-Keta plains Volta region Ghana, 2017); China (inspection of ductile pipes to conform with designed specifications for Zaria Water Supply Project, 2016).

Prof. T. S. Ijimdiya is a professional member of several professional bodies such as:
• Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC),
• Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE),
• Member, Material Science Technology Society Nigeria (MMSTSN),
• Member, Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (MNICE), he is currently the Technical committee chairman (2018 – Present)
• Registered Engineer, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN),
• Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), he is currently also the Technical committee chairman (2020 – Present)

OBICHI OBIAJUNWA

Dr. Obichi is an accomplished professional specializing in innovation leadership and global health. Currently serving as the national consultant for WIPO Nigeria’s IP Skills Acquisition, Learning, and Youth Entrepreneurship (IP-SALAYE) Program, he also leads the Research for Impact Initiative of Nigeria’s TETFund, where he has trained over 300 lecturers from universities and polytechnics nationwide on research commercialization.

A notable achievement includes founding and presiding over the Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Fellowship, a pan-African platform nurturing young professionals to drive innovation in their fields. Through collaborations with diverse organizations and multilateral agencies, the YIL Fellowship empowers African youth to address global challenges innovatively.

With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Obichi mentors on global platforms. Notably, he spearheaded the innovation lab at UNFPA Nigeria in 2019, focusing on groundbreaking inventions in maternal and adolescent health.

As a speaker at the 2021 Milken Institute Global Conference, Dr. Obichi shares insights and conducts training sessions on innovation leadership in corporate, educational, and research settings. Through the Research Commercialization and Acceleration Program (RECAP), which he founded in 2022, he has provided intensive training at universities including Abubakar Tafewa Balewa University Bauchi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Rivers State University, among others.

Dr. Obichi, a Nigerian-trained physician, holds a Master of Public Health degree and an MBA in innovation and venture creation from Israel. He is a member of the AU-AI continental strategy development team and has co-founded AI-enabled healthcare startups, including Theragist, Daru Health, and EpochZero.