Professor Samuel Okechukwu Onyekuru holds a B.Sc. Degree in Geosciences. He was the Best Graduating Geoscience Student in the 1990/1991 session in the erstwhile Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH, now Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka). During the National Youth Service Corps programme in 1992, Prof. Onyekuru worked as the Project Geologist with Kwara Water Corporation, as well as the Corps Liaison Officer, Ilorin West Local Government Area and successfully mapped Ilorin and its Environs and was rewarded with NYSC Honours Awards. Before joining the services of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in 2002, he worked with several Water Drilling and geo-engineering companies (1993 – 2001) and rose to the position of Project Manager. Within this period he completed several National Water Rehabilitation and Petroleum Trust Fund and Rural water projects in Imo, Akwa Ibom, FCT, Cross River, Kogi, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Zamfara States. Within a very short period as a lecturer in FUTO, he rose to the position of Senior Lecturer after obtaining M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees, respectively in Hydrogeology and Petroleum/Sedimentary Geology in 2004 and 2010, from Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in 2010. With over ninety (95) publications in various core geosciences disciplines, more than 21 years teaching experience under his belt, and active participation in various software and field trainings here in Nigeria and abroad, Professor S.O. Onyekuru has become an accomplished academician.
He had held some key positions in the University and Imo State, having served out tenures as the Deputy/Ag. Director, Institute of Erosion Studies (2017), Head of Department, Department of Geology FUTO (2017-2019), Commissioner, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Owerri (2019). He is presently the Head/Team Lead Exploration Geosciences Research Group, Coordinator, Pre Degree Programme and the Research Coordinator, Africa Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACEFUELS). Beyond the classroom and university administration, Professor. Onyekuru is an active member of several professional bodies including but not limited to NAPE, AAPG, NMGS, COMEG, etc. where he regularly brings his research findings to the industrial sector as a lead presenter, judge and panelist. He is also an external examiner and assessor to many Universities. Prof. Sam Onyekuru is a member of the order of Knight of St. Christopher (K.SC.), Owerri Council and is happily married to Lady Joy Chisom Onyekuru. They are blessed with six (6) children.
