Chisom Akujobi emerges 2023 first in the Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering

An Abia State born Power Electronics Systems Engineer at Rootwave Ltd., Chisom Akujobi- Ezeonyeka has emerged the first in the Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering for 2023.

Nigeria Women have continued to take the lead in different sectors of the world with landmark achievements.

World Education Services (WES) made this known during the 2023 International Women in Engineering, INWE Day held on June 23.

On 23 June, 2023, Akujobi- Ezeonyeka, the only female engineer at RootWave, was nominated for creating an eco-friendly alternative to herbicides by developing a patented high-frequency electrical weed control technology for agricultural applications.

WES explained that her work would kill weeds using electricity and zero chemicals. Chisom’s designs make it possible for farmers to have a safe alternative to kill weeds and protect crops, humans, and the environment. Thus, contributing to 9 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals such as zero hunger, good health, clean water, life below water, and life on land.

The education service group further explained that herbicide application has been a common weed control method, especially in the agricultural sector, yet, due to climate change, weed has become more resistant to herbicides.

WES added that herbicides have been classed as carcinogenic and found to upsurge plant fungi diseases and decline amphibians as a result of contaminated surface runoff. These have contributed to the restricted use of herbicides and birthed the need for environmentally friendly solutions to kill weeds.

Chisom Akujobi- Ezeonyeka was born in 1991 in Abia State southeast, Nigeria to Robinson Akujobi, a bursar at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, and Ogechi Uche-Akujobi, a chartered accountant.

She obtained her WASSCE at Federal Government Girls’ Secondary School, Owerri before proceeding to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Owerri.

After her youth service, she moved to the United Kingdom where she earned an MSc. in Electric Power Engineering at Newcastle University.

 She has since worked in the automotive, instrumentation, and control sectors where she led projects that develop bespoke prototype technology.

Currently, she works with Rootwave Ltd., United Kingdom. Rootwave Ltd., is an electronic company that has a patented technology to kill weed with electricity and zero chemicals. The honoree is the only female Power Electronics Engineer in Rootwave.

“Since joining, she has designed and developed the central intelligence system that manages and delivers high power at high frequency to instantly kill weed which decomposes and returns to the soil as nutrients.

“Chisom strives to encourage younger people, especially girls into STEM by volunteering as a STEM Ambassador. She recommends more women into STEM roles and organizes CV reviews and mock interview sessions for them.

She also hosts an online and in-person sessions for 13 to 17-year-olds on the importance of Engineering and how to get into STEM.

This aims at exposing students to the industry and its requirements. Chisom also volunteers as a School Governor in a primary school, contributing to strategies and policies on safeguarding and curriculum.

Chisom had in her words via LinkedIn said she was happy to work with the company. 

“I am proud to work for RootWave. Recently, I started working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). I won the first round of the IET ‘Present in 10’ competition under the sustainability and climate change category, which was an opportunity to champion my work with RootWave to other engineers. I was proud to talk about electrical weed control as a sustainable solution.

“Sustainability and the chance to make a difference in the world was one of the things that first attracted me to the role here. I was also very interested in working with high-frequency electricity. The fact that it is a spectrum of electricity that can be used to build safer products is appealing. I felt it would be good for my career development to work in that field.” 

Source: The women