DIRECTOR OF ICT

PROFESSOR SUNNY ORIKE

PROFILE OF THE DIRECTOR OF ICT

Professor Sunny Orike, hails from Osiakpu Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate from State School Osiakpu in 1984; West African Senior School Certificate from Sancta Maria High School Omoku in 1990 and Bachelor of Technology in Computer Engineering (pioneer set of students) from Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University) in 1998. He did his NYSC at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, from 1999 to 2000.

worked briefly as a Graduate System Engineer with Aptech Worldwide, Port Harcourt Centre from 2001 to 2002. In August 2002, he received two career offers – Computer Engineer I with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship to Study for MSc, Computing (Software Technology) at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, commencing in September 2002. He chose the latter, and on successful completion in September 2003, he came back to Nigeria and was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Electrical/Computer Engineering which he resumed on 20th November 2003. As part of his career development, he later obtained Master of Philosophy in Computational Intelligence from The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen in 2008; and Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom in 2015; through HiPACT/Rivers State Government and NDDC scholarships respectively.

Engr. Prof. Orike has travelled widely to present papers in both national and international conferences. His major research interest is in developing computational intelligence techniques to solve engineering and real life problems. He has over 100 publications visible on Google Scholar and published in reputable academic journals and conference proceedings. He is an active member of the following professional bodies: • Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). • Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN). • Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). • Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). • British Computer Society (BCS). • Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE). • International Association of Engineers (IAENG).

Engr. Prof. Orike is the first Professor of Computer Engineering (with special interest in Artificial Intelligence) in Rivers State University. He was the pioneer Ag. Head of the restarted Department of Computer Engineering (2018 – 2022) and former Ag. Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering (2015 – 2018). He is an enthusiastic, articulate, focused, self-motivated, goal-oriented and excellence-driven Engineer, with vast experience spanning across teaching, administration, research and development. He has served Rivers State University in several capacities, and currently belong to several Committees of the University. He was an Adjunct Senior Lecturer and Reader with the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State; an External Examiner/Assessor, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt and External Assessor, Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; and a Facilitator with National Open University of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Study Centre. He was also the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Omoku Branch (2022 – 2024), after previously serving as Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Chief Internal Auditor, Electoral Returning Officer, as well as Chairman/Secretary/Member of several Committees of the Branch.

Engr. Prof. Orike received several awards/recognitions from Rivers State University students, including: • Grand-Patron of the Society of Electrical/Electronics Engineering Students (2016). • Meritorious award for outstanding performance as Ag. Head, Department of Electrical Engineering from the Society of Electrical/Electronics Engineering Students (2017). • Most Student-Friendly HOD from Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (2017). • Most-Friendly HOD from the National Union of Rivers State Students (2017). • Award of Excellence as an HOD for outstanding student relationship from the Students Union Government (2018). • Grand-Patron of the Association of Computer Engineering Students (2021). • Patron of Man O War, Rivers State University Command (2022). • Service Star Award from Association of Computer Engineering Students as Pioneer HOD (2023). • Award of Excellence from Federated Union of Orashi Students Worldwide (2023). • Distinguished Award of Excellence as the 1st Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering from the Ag. Head of Department (2024).

Socially, Engr. Prof. Orike is a jolly good fellow, likeable by all who come around him. He is currently the “Rector” of the Rivers State University Senior Staff Club; where he developed and holds the “C-Model” patent and assigns the number of Cs to all members of the Club. He is indeed a good “Social Engineer”.

He enjoys reading, writing, travelling, socializing, networking and mentoring junior colleagues. He is married to Mrs Dayibara Sunny-Orike (nee Nyanabo), and they are blessed with three lovely children – Chukwuoma, Chukwumbana and Chukwumela Sunny-Orike.