Professor Emeka Emmanuel Oguzie, FCSN, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Innovation) FUTO, and Centre Leader, Africa Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS), has delivered the 39th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Speaking on the topic “Nature-Inspired Materials Protection: Bridging Degradation Science and the Green Energy Revolution,” Professor Oguzie—an expert in Electrochemistry and Materials Science from the Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences—delivered a thought-provoking lecture that explored how biomimetic principles can be harnessed to design corrosion-resistant and sustainable materials for the green energy transition.

The Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, in her remarks highly commended Professor Oguzie for his outstanding contributions to science and innovation, describing him as: "An inspiration to the university community and a beacon of intellectual excellence."

The lecture, held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Prof. C.O.E. Onwuliri Conference Hall, drew scholars, researchers, and policymakers from across Nigeria and beyond. Professor Oguzie emphasized that “Africa’s path to energy sustainability lies in harnessing our natural resources and indigenous knowledge systems through science that is both innovative and responsible.” His insights resonated deeply with participants, including Dr. Adewale Tolulope Irewale, Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Network of Researchers in Energy and Sustainable Technologies (INREST), who described the lecture as “a powerful celebration of decades of outstanding scholarship and mentorship.”

Adding his voice, Okeh Ochulo, Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN) and Head of Media, INREST, also described Professor Oguzie's contributions to academia as a “demonstration of how scientific creativity rooted in integrity can drive Africa’s green revolution.” He noted that the lecture not only showcased groundbreaking science but also inspired a new generation of researchers to pursue excellence with purpose and passion.