The Team

Dr. Barnabas Ikyo

President

Barnabas Achakpa Ikyo is the Director of the Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria. In 2014, he was appointed Project Manager of the Africa Centre of Excellence project won and hosted at CEFTER. He holds a PhD from the University of Surrey, UK and is a Visiting Fellow of the University Greenwich UK. 

Dr. Barnabas Ikyo was awarded a PhD in Physics from the Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey Guildford, UK in 2011. After his PhD, he proceeded on a Post-Doctoral at the same University from April, 2012 to December 2013. He also holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Physics and Bachelor’s degree in Physics in 2006 and 2001 respectively. His research interest is in Photonics for electrical power generation (Solar energy), Environmental and Health Physics,characterization and optimization of Photonics based devices with applications in Quantum electronics, Medical applications and Environmental sensing.

Dr. B. Ikyohas 18 year’s teaching experience at College and University level. Currently, he is being assessed for Associate Professorship in the Department of Physics Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria. He is currently carrying out efficiency mapping for photovoltaic (solar panel) installation in North Central Nigeria. He is a crusader of efficient electric power usage and his documentaries on efficient use of energy to curb waste of electrical energy have gone on Channels, NTA and YouTube.

Dr Barnabas Ikyo is a researcher of international repute; His notable and most recent projects include £1Million Technology Strategy Board UK project to develop a solid state test kit for Ecoli in water at the Advanced Technology Institute Guildford. Currently, he is the Project Manager/Deputy Centre Leader of the $7Million Africa Centre of Excellence for Control of Post-harvest Losses at the Benue State University. He is a technical consultant to the Inter-University Council of East Africa on Centres’ of Excellence project in Africa.

Dr. Barnabas Ikyo has over 35 publications including in Nature Scientific Reports. He has done courses in renewable energy generation, solar power installation and management, smart grids and intelligent devices.

He was born on the 25th December, 1979. He is married and God has blessed him with four children.

Dr. Daniel Kwadjo Dzidzienyo

Vice-President

Dr. Daniel Kwadjo Dzidzienyo is a Lecturer at the Biotechnology Centre of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon. He is also the Deputy Centre Leader of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) – Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) Project and doubles as an Associate Lecturer and Coordinator for Research Programmes, Anglophone Africa at WACCI.

Prior to his appointment as Lecturer at the Biotechnology Centre, he was a Part-Time Teaching Assistant and a Postgraduate Assistant at the Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK. Dr. Dzidzienyo is a member of the WACCI Management Committee, College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) Academic Board, CBAS Research Board and the UG Academic Board. He holds a BSc. in Agriculture from the University of Ghana, Legon, MSc. in Plant Genetic Manipulations and PhD in Plant Sciences (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) from the University of Nottingham, UK.

His research interest includes the integration of modern molecular tools for developing resilient varieties of root and tuber crops for food and nutrition security in Africa.