By Emmanuel Okogba

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Afe Babalola University, Engr. Dr. Imhade Princess Okokpujie, has said that robotics education is creating new opportunities for Nigerian girls, equipping them with skills to thrive in science and technology.

Speaking on her advocacy, Dr. Okokpujie declared: “Robotics is opening doors for Nigerian girls. We are empowering them to see themselves as future leaders in engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.”

Ranked among the world’s top researchers in Design and Advanced Manufacturing, Dr. Okokpujie has authored over 300 peer‑reviewed publications and earned recognition in 2024 and 2025 as part of the top 2 percent of scientists globally. Her work focuses on sustainable manufacturing systems, eco‑friendly machining technologies, and optimisation techniques aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond academia, she is remembered for her sporting achievements, having represented Nigeria in badminton at the 2007 All Africa Games and rising to become the country’s fourth‑ranked player. She also contributed to sports administration in Delta State before transitioning fully into academia.

Her outreach efforts through the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) and the Society of Women Engineers have brought robotics training to high school girls. “Every girl deserves the chance to build, innovate, and lead in STEM,” she added.

Dr. Okokpujie’s dual legacy in sports and science underscores her commitment to excellence, positioning her as a role model for innovation, resilience, and gender inclusion in Nigeria’s academic and technological landscape.

‎With over nine years of dedicated research in modelling, optimisation, and advanced machining technology, Dr. Okokpujie has focused on developing sustainable manufacturing systems. Her work contributes directly to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Responsible Consumption and Production under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 12.

‎‎Her engineering journey began in 2007 during her industrial attachment at the Ogorode Steam Power Generation Plant in Sapele, Delta State. As an Operational Control Engineer, she was responsible for servicing and repairs of the steam power plant, gaining hands on technical experience that laid the foundation for her future research breakthroughs.

‎‎After graduation, she served at Starcom Media Limited in Ikeja, Lagos State, during her National Youth Service Corps from March 2010 to February 2011. However, long before establishing herself in academia, Dr. Imhade had already built a formidable reputation in sports.

‎‎As an undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering at Ambrose Alli University, she represented the Nigeria Badminton Association as a national player for five years from 2005 to 2010. Within just two years, she rose to become Nigeria’s number four ranked badminton player, a testament to her discipline and relentless drive.

‎‎She represented Nigeria in several international competitions, including the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria, consistently winning medals and bringing pride to the nation. Her athletic career also included a passion for table tennis, where she secured victories in national tournaments.

‎‎In 2004, she represented the Delta State Sports Commission at the National Sports Festival, winning numerous medals and earning a state job offer due to her outstanding performance. Between 2012 and 2016, she served with the Delta State Sports Commission in the Department of Planning, Research, and Statistics, supervising projects as a Project Supervisor and Stadium Manager.

‎‎These leadership roles strengthened her administrative and technical capacity, motivating her to pursue advanced academic qualifications. She went on to obtain her Master’s degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering, transitioning fully into research and academia.

‎‎Dr. Okokpujie’s research addresses critical challenges in the energy, oil and gas, iron and steel, and manufacturing sectors. Her core contributions include the development of eco friendly nano lubricants for advanced machining operations and sustainable optimisation techniques using heuristic and metaheuristic approaches to improve efficiency and productivity.

‎‎Her innovative work has earned international recognition. She was ranked among the Top 2 percent of scientists globally in 2024 and 2025 based on the Elsevier Data Repository. In 2024, she also received the Excellent Researcher Award from the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

‎‎Beyond Nigeria, she serves as a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the Pan Africa University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya, and as a postgraduate external assessor for KLEF University in India. She is also a reviewer, editor, and editorial board member of several reputable journals and conferences.

‎‎An accomplished scholar, she has authored and co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, with 255 indexed in Scopus, more than 2,443 citations, and an H index of 27. She is the lead author of the book “Modern Optimisation Techniques for Advanced Machining Heuristic and Meta-Heuristic Techniques” and has held leadership positions within the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Association of Professional Women of Engineers in Nigeria.

‎‎Yet, perhaps her most transformative impact lies in her advocacy for STEM education and the empowerment of young girls. As the second chairman of APWEN Ota from 2020 -2022, APWEN National Technical Secretary from 2020 to 2021 and first Female Vice Chairman of Nigerian Society of Engineers Ota from 2021 to 2022 among other top leadership roles gearing STEM Advocacy. As the initiator and Team Leader of the First Livonia, SWE, and APWEN Robotics Outreach in Nigeria, she is equipping high school girls with robotics and advanced manufacturing skills, fostering gender-inclusive education in robotics and artificial intelligence and shaping a future where Nigerian girls lead boldly in science and technology.