A BRIEF PROFILE OF DR. OGBONNAYA ONU
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on December 1, 1951, to the family of
His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in
Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School
Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the
Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate
Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. By
1976, he graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemical
Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor
of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing
through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California,
Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on
coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild
conditions. He showed that it was possible under relatively mild
conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil.
While in the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the
President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate
Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley and also
President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc. Back
home, he served as President General of his alma-mater, Izzi High
School, Abakaliki, Old Boys Association.
Coming out of higher school, Dr. Onu taught at St. Augustine’s
Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State. After completing his doctoral
studies in the USA, he returned to Nigeria at the time when many
others in his situation preferred to stay back. On coming back from
overseas, he taught at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer
Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. On several
occasions, he served as Acting Dean of the University’s Faculty of
Engineering and was also elected as a Member of the Governing
Council of the university.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was born on December 1, 1951, to the family of
His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in
Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School
Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the
Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate
Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. By
1976, he graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemical
Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor
of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing
through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California,
Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on
coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild
conditions. He showed that it was possible under relatively mild
conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil.
While in the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the
President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate
Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley and also
President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc. Back
home, he served as President General of his alma-mater, Izzi High
School, Abakaliki, Old Boys Association.
Coming out of higher school, Dr. Onu taught at St. Augustine’s
Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State. After completing his doctoral
studies in the USA, he returned to Nigeria at the time when many
others in his situation preferred to stay back. On coming back from
overseas, he taught at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer
Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. On several
occasions, he served as Acting Dean of the University’s Faculty of
Engineering and was also elected as a Member of the Governing
Council of the university.
