Barth Nnaji Biography
Barth Nnaji is a Nigerian engineer, innovator, and former minister of power. He founded and serves as the chairman of Geometric Power Limited, the pioneering indigenous-owned power development company in Nigeria. He is also one of the inventors of the E-Design concept, which enables product design engineers to work collaboratively from remote locations using the computer and internet.
He has a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Post Doctorate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He was the Federal Minister of Science and Technology in 1993, and the Minister of Power from 2011 to 2012. In addition, he held the position of Special Adviser to the President on Power and served as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power in 2010.
He is the mastermind behind the Aba Integrated Power Project, which is Nigeria’s only integrated power project that has its own embedded power plant and distribution network. The project is expected to supply reliable power to industries, commercial businesses, and residences in nine local government areas in Abia State.
Barth Nnaji Age
Barth Nnaji is 68 years old as of 2024.
Barth Nnaji State Of Origin
Barth Nnaji hails from Enugu State, Nigeria.
Barth Nnaji Early Life and Education
Nnaji was born on July 13, 1956, in Enugu State, Nigeria, in an environment where education was highly valued. From an early age, he displayed a strong passion for the sciences and mathematics, setting the stage for his future pursuits in engineering.
He attended St. John’s University in New York, USA, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He then proceeded to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for his Master’s and PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering.
His research and academic achievements garnered global recognition, establishing him as a respected member of the engineering and scientific community. Additionally, he obtained a Post Doctorate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He joined the faculty of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1983, where he became the Founder and Director of the Automation and Robotics Laboratory.
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Barth Nnaji Career and Achievements
Barth Nnaji started his career as a professor of engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1983, where he became the founder and director of the Automation and Robotics Laboratory. He became a full professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in 1992. He focused his research on three major topics: computer aided design, robotics, and computer aided engineering. He coined the term “geometric reasoning,” highlighting the prevalence of geometric configurations in various operational contexts. Additionally, he is recognized as a pioneer of the E-Design concept, enabling product design engineers to collaborate remotely on designing, assembling, and testing products using computer and internet technology.
In 1993, Nnaji took a leave of absence from the university and returned to Nigeria to serve as the federal minister of science and technology. He was responsible for overseeing the country’s scientific and technological development and policies. He also initiated several projects and programs to promote innovation and research in various fields.
He returned to the US in 1994 and joined the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ALCOA Foundation Distinguished Professor of Engineering. He later became the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Engineering and the founding director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for e-Design, a five-university campus NSF Center of Excellence in e-design.
In 2000, Nnaji founded Geometric Power Limited, Nigeria’s first indigenous-owned power development company. He envisioned a company that would address Nigeria’s energy crisis by providing reliable and sustainable electricity to industries, commercial businesses, and residences. He also aimed to create a model for the privatization and reform of the power sector in Nigeria. He officially left the University of Pittsburgh and returned to Nigeria in 2007 to focus on his company.
As the CEO of Geometric Power, Nnaji has led the company to embark on ambitious and innovative projects. One of them is the Aba Integrated Power Project, which is Nigeria’s only integrated power project that has its own embedded power plant and distribution network. The project is expected to supply reliable power to nine local government areas in Abia State, covering over 140,000 customers. The project is also designed to be environmentally friendly, using natural gas as the main fuel source and incorporating renewable energy sources such as solar and biomass.
In 2010, Nnaji assumed the role of Special Adviser to the President on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power. He was tasked with developing and implementing a roadmap for the reform and improvement of the power sector in Nigeria. He also supervised the unbundling and privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the state-owned electricity company. He also initiated several projects and policies to increase power generation, transmission, and distribution capacity, as well as to improve efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the sector.
In 2011, Nnaji became the minister of power under President Goodluck Jonathan. He continued his efforts to reform and revitalize the power sector, as well as to attract investment and partnership from local and international stakeholders. He also oversaw the completion and commissioning of several power plants and transmission lines across the country. He resigned from his position in August 2012, citing personal reasons.
Barth Nnaji Wife and Children
Barth Nnaji is married to Agatha Nnaji, who is a lawyer and a businesswoman. They have four children: three sons and one daughter. They live in Enugu State, Nigeria, where they are involved in various social and philanthropic activities.
Barth Nnaji Net Worth
Barth Nnaji has an estimated net worth of $5 million as of 2024.
