Professor Ir. P. B. Onaji

(Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola)

Advanced Ceramic Materials: Potential Development in Nigeria.

Professor Ir. P. B. Onaji attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and obtained a B.Sc in Chemistry in 1973. He later attended the University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands and obtained a B.Sc. Chemical Engineering and Ir. (M.Eng) Chemical Engineering (distinction). He obtained a Ph. D. degree in Ceramic Engineering (CGPA 3.90/4.00), at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, U. S. A. He was an academic staff at Department of Chemical Engineering, ABU Zaria from 1975 to 1998 where he became a Professor in 1992. He was a Senior Consultant at BTG Biomass Technology Group, Enschede, the Netherlands for two years and later joined Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola in 2001 as a Professor and was Head of Department for five years and Dean of Engineering for two years. He was a long standing member of the Governing Board of Nigerian National Merit Award. Abuja.

Professor Onaji has published four journal articles in high impact factor journals and seven technical reports for international organizations. He invented a method for preparing yttria stabilized zirconia thin films by multilayer electron-beam deposition, innovated a patented process for the manufacture of a long shelf-life food drink and initiated the research on production of zeolite FCC catalysts for oil refineries in ABU Zaria. He has developed several other industrial products from local raw materials and led the manufacturing and marketing of MAUTECH bottled table water (NAFDAC registered), a good example of a successful university entrepreneurial activity.