Invention and Engineering

Gordian Ezekwe

Gordian Obumneme Ezekwe (May 10, 1929 – June 25, 1997) was a Nigerian inventor, mechanical engineer and former federal Minister of Science and Technology under Ibrahim Babangida from 1989 to 1991. As the head of the Rocket Group of the Biafran Research and Production Directorate, he was notable for supervising the invention of the Biafran rocket and building a refinery for producing fuel, kerosene and diesel during the Nigerian Civil War. It is worthy of note that as minister of science and technology in 1991, 21 years after the civil war, he didn’t forget one of the major contributors under his Research and Production team during the civil war. He recognized Engineer Romanus Okonkwo Nduagubam (Managing director of Micro-precision Engineering works Ltd., Enugu), a notable member of his research and production team during the war for his tremendous efforts and design/ development of a highly efficient machine that churned out tens of thousands of percussion caps which helped wage the war and sustain the biafrans, with a National award for excellence in Engineering and Technology. He was also involved in the production of the Ogbunigwe. He was a former director of the Projects Development Agency (PRODA) (later renamed Institute), first Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency For Science and Engineering, Infrastructure (NASENI), and founder of Science Equipment Development Institute (SEDI). Prof. Gordian Ezekwe was the first Nigerian PhD in Mechanical Engineering (1959)

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See also

• ▸G. Tilghman Richards
• ▸Graceville Uniting Church
• ▸John Fowler & Co.

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