Dr. Akudo Ogechukwu Onunwa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, with over 12 years of experience in teaching, research, and community development. She has served as Head of Department and currently coordinates the Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA) at NAU, playing a key role in advancing agricultural research and innovation.
Her expertise extends beyond academia, with international experience from the TWAS-DFG Fellowship at the University of Bonn, Germany, where she contributed to meta-analysis research on carbon dynamics in subsoil. She has also collaborated with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) on afforestation and biodiversity conservation, spearheading tree-planting projects to green university campuses.
Dr. Onunwa has played an instrumental role in soil conservation and climate-smart agriculture through her work with the Community Resource Management and Conservation Initiative (CRMCI), consulting for the World Bank/Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) as a Livelihood Officer. She has facilitated water harvesting, soil conservation, and climate-smart agricultural training programs for farmers and extension officers under the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS).
Holding a B.Agric. in Soil Science (1989), an M.Sc. in Soil Physics and Conservation (1993), and a Ph.D. in Soil Conservation (2017) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr. Onunwa remains committed to sustainable land management, erosion control, and ecological organic agriculture. Her extensive contributions in soil and water conservation, afforestation, and climate resilience directly align with advancing agrivoltaics, ensuring sustainable agricultural systems and environmental restoration in Nigeria