Prof. Bart Nnaji at 70: Colloquium, Gala Dinner hold to celebrate Engineering Icon
The Who-is-Who from different parts of Nigeria and beyond will congregate in Enugu, Nigeria’s famed ‘Coal City,’ on Friday, July 17, 2026 to celebrate a living legend, an Engineering Icon, former Minister of Power and founder, Geometric Power Ltd., Professor Bart Nnaji, who turns 70 on Monday, July 13, 2026.
The day, set aside for the celebration of the innovator per excellence, and stable power pioneer, will witness an intellectual dissection of the power problem in Nigeria and Professor Nnaji’s globally acclaimed contributions towards the solution of the crisis. The day of history would end with a social celebration of the international man of many firsts.
The Platinum Anniversary celebration will start off at 9:00 AM (West African Time) with a high profile Colloquium, with the theme: “Powering Tomorrow: 70 Years of Engineering The Common Good,” and would be followed, later the same day, with a Grand Gala Dinner, all in honour of visionary leadership, innovation and exemplary service, represented by Professor Nnaji, the pace setter.
While the Colloquium will hold at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Enugu, the Grand Gala Dinner, “an evening of elegance, celebration and connection,” will take place from 5:00PM at Amadeo Event Centre, also in Enugu.
According to the organisers, the events will bring together distinguished personalities from government, business, academia, industry and other sectors, to celebrate the life and achievements of one of Nigeria’s most respected engineers and innovators.
Born on July 13, 1956 in Enugu State, Professor Nnaji has built an outstanding career in engineering, education, innovation, public service and the private sector.
He studied and served at some of the best institutions in the United States of America, including St. John’s University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Pittsburgh.
He excelled in all he did, including sports, but making his mark as a distinguished innovator whose inventions are still being used in the US, especially in the fields of Robotics, and modern engineering and manufacturing generally.
After years in academia, the great patriot returned to Nigeria to contribute to his home country’s development. For instance, in 1993, he served as the country’s Minister of Science and Technology, and later founded Geometric Power, Nigeria’s first indigenous owned power development company, which has played an important role in the country’s electricity sector.
He also served as Special Adviser on Power, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power before being appointed Minister of Power in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. In all of these positions, he left his imprint of excellence and positive impact.
The organisers of the events say that the Colloquium and the Grand Gala Dinner will not only celebrate Professor Nnaji’s 70th platinum birthday, but will also offer Nigerians the opportunity to reflect on his landmark achievements and monumental contributions to engineering, innovation, education, public service and industrial development generally.
A grassroots man, a lover of nature and his people, the events will surely not end without reference being made to his contributions to his people and to his place of birth, especially through his Foundation.
At the end of the day, lasting lessons would have been learnt through the events that would challenge the iconic celebrant, and all others who would attend, as well as those who will read or hear about the events, to do more for their communities, for their states, for the country, for Global Africa and for the world as a whole.
