Prof. Igwe was Senior Lecturer (1984-1988) at the Rivers State University of Science & Technology, and Visiting Professor of Chemical Engineering (1988-89) at Texas A&M University, U.S.A. He was a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University, Texas (1989-91). From 1991-92, he was Consultant at Core Laboratories in Houston, Texas. He joined Continental Oil Company (Conoco, Inc.) in Ponca City, Oklahoma as a Senior Staff Engineer (1992-1995), and later relocated to join DuPont Company’s Central Research & Development, Experimental Station, in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, as Senior Research Engineer from 1995-2002. He was Peer Reviewer for U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. National Science Foundation. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas PE#76983 (1993-date), and COREN (Nigeria) R.2976 July 28, 1988. He was elected nationwide, in U.S.A., as Director, Fuels & Petrochemicals Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and later again, as Director, Environmental Division.
He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (8/3/2007) in honor and appreciation of superior attainment. In 1993, he was awarded Alexander-von-Humboldt fellowship, a grant awarded annually to senior US scientists and scholars from abroad with internationally recognized academic qualifications. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (13/10/2012). He is also a Fellow (2018) and member of Editorial Board (2020) of the Nigerian Academy of Engineers. He is an Inventor of 3 U.S. Patents on Remediation Technology of Contaminated Soils, and Polyamide/Polyurethane Micro-blend and Process. For this invention, he was nominated for E.I. DuPont’s Engineering Excellence Award (26/2/98). He is Author of 3 Chemical Engineering Books and over 50 peer-reviewed international journals.
Engr. Prof. Godwin Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Igwe is a World Bank Robert McNamara Outstanding Scholar, the only African recipient of this world-wide competitive fellowship award in 1988-1989, to research Instrumentation and Maintenance of Equipment in Small-and Medium-Scale Industries in Third World Countries. In this research funded by World Bank, he visited and under-studied maintenance cultures of 13 major USA industries.
Job Related Usa Executive Leadership Training Courses:
- ASTM Technical & Professional Training Course on Crude Oil & Gasoline. September 2008 at ASTM International Headquarters, West Conshohocken, PA.
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training at Oklahoma Safety Council
- Short Course on Soil and Groundwater Remediation at the University of California (UCLA) Los Angeles
- Process Hazardous Review (PHR); Engineering for Sustainable development training
- Emerging Technologies, Metals Oxidation
- Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects training
- Participated in Summer Program at M.I.T. Course: Assessing Organic Pollutants in the Environment
- Participated in Summer Program at University of Texas at Austin: Bioremediation of contaminated soils and sludges
- Short Course on “Stabilization/Stabilization fundamentals – Case Studies and Regulations” at Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas.
- Short Course on Technical Supervisor’s Focus. Supervised research professionals/technicians and evaluated their performance reviews. In this role, created an environment in which self and others were motivated. By applying interpersonal skills to improve communication and conflict resolution, I engaged direct reports for long term productivity.
- International Chemical Oxidation course
- 8-Hour OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 Health & Safety Training towards fulfillment of annual training requirements for hazardous waste/materials.
- Introduction to Petroleum Refining short course at Colorado School of Mines
- DuPont Research & Development Management Safety training
- Short Course on Surfactant Science and Technology at University of Oklahoma Surfactant Associates, Inc.
- Economic Evaluation and Investment Management course
- Process Evaluation Course
- 2-Weeks DuPont’s Technology Leadership course at Chesapeake Farm
- Project Training: Planning and Managing Projects
- Financial Training: Research and Business Finance: Financial Fundamentals
- Marketing Training: Profitable Growth Market Development Course
He was the pioneer Director of the Centre for Gas, Refining & Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, and for the first time in Nigeria, organized the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th International Conferences/Exhibitions on Gas, Petroleum Refining, Petrochemicals and Fertilizers. He was appointed NLNG Chair of Gas Processing Engineering in 2015. During his tenure in the University of Port Harcourt, he developed course content curriculum approved by the Senate, and pioneered the establishment of Centre for Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt. He taught chemical engineering courses at CGRP, Emerald Energy Institute, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Petroleum and Gas Engineering Departments. He trained, mentored and supervised Masters and Ph.D students in Faculty of Engineering. He advocated and promoted the idea of modular refineries in Nigeria which has now been approved and accepted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, making him a subject matter expert and repository on modular refineries knowledge, and projecting positive image of University of Port Harcourt. He is a member of the Board of Directors, Modular Refiners of Nigeria, with the citation: “The most consistent Academic with written articles on the Economic Benefits of Modular Refinery Development”. He negotiated, organized and taught short courses at Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) and organized National workshops on modular refineries. He formed and led Research teams on Modular refineries for developing software on Gas and modular refineries with NLNG.
He attracted external sponsors (e.g., NCDMB, NLNG, INDORAMA, NOTORE, NNPC REFINERIES PHRC, KPRC, WPRC) to the University of Port Harcourt. He was part of the contributors to formation and accreditation of Centre for Petroleum Research & Training, World Bank African Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals Research.
Igwe was elected Fellow, African Scientific Institute (October 2017-date).
Professor Igwe represented the Federal Government of Nigeria (NNPC) on the Board of Directors of Flopetrol Nigeria Limited (1985-87). He also represented the Rivers State Government as Member of Governing Council of the then Rivers State School of Basic Studies (1986-1988). On invitation from the Federal Government of Nigeria in Abuja in October 2000, Prof. Igwe represented DuPont Company and presented a paper on Biotechnology: Commercialization and Food Security. His paper was titled: “Impact of Biotech Products on Development”. He peer-reviews Standards for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) (2002-date). Reviewer: Journal of Environmental Progress, Reviewer: Journal of Hazardous Materials, November 2003 till date, Reviewer: Reviewer: International Association for Hydrogen Energy, March 2003, Editorial Review Board: Journal of Filtration & Separation. He was awarded Federal Government of Nigeria Scholarship leading to award of Ph.D at University of Bradford, England. He is a founding Membership Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria section, and Senior member, American Chemical Society, American Filtration & Separation Society, IBWA (International Bottled Water Association.),
By far, the most significant contribution of Professor Igwe in Nigeria was on Modular Refineries. Nigeria’s story on oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals, will be “incomplete” without the contribution and advocacy of Prof Igwe on modular refineries. His relentless and persistent advocacy led to legalization, recognition and approval by the Federal government of Nigeria of the former illegal refineries. His research capabilities led to funding of the first modular refining pilot laboratory in Sub-saharan Africa by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, and a building infrastructure to house the same, enabling graduation of over 45 M.Sc. Engineering students in Refining & Petrochemicals from the University of Port Harcourt.
He contributed a Chapter in the book “How University of Port Harcourt successfully leveraged on Returning Diaspora Nigerian Academics to expand the Knowledge Economy” (ISBN 978-978-963-931-1) Edited by Prof. J. A. Ajienka (former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt)
Professor Igwe is the founder/President and CEO of Technology Transfers Incorporated, Newark, 19711, Delaware, USA, and Millennium Technologies Limited, Nigeria. He is a native of Omoku, ONELGA, in Rivers State of Nigeria. He earned his Ph.D. (1983) from University of Bradford, UK., M.Phil. (1981) from University of Leeds, UK., and B.Sc. (1977), (Dipl.Ing.) from Technical University (FHS), Kiel, Germany), all in Chemical Engineering. He is listed in Marquis “Who is Who” in Science and Engineering, and “Who is Who” in America.