DG’s Office

A BRIEF PROFILE OF PROFESSOR LINUS O. ASUQUO

Professor Linus Asuquo was born in March 18, 1954 in MbakItam III, Itu now in Akwa Ibom State.  He was educated at Practising School, Uyo, now University of Uyo and graduated in 1965.  Attended Holy Family College, Oku-Abak between 1968 and 1969 and St. Patrick’s College, Calabar between 1970 and 1972.  Taught Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry briefly in Christian Technical College, Oyubia, Oron in 1973. Attended College of Technology, Calabar between 1973 and 1975 and obtained London G. C. E. Advanced Level. Taught Chemistry and Mathematics briefly at Immaculate Conception Secondary School, Itak in 1976. Obtained Bureau for External Aid Scholarship in 1976 to study Metallurgy in Technical University, Kosice in then Czechoslovakia and graduated in 1982 with M.Sc. Distinction and also Best Graduating Student in the University.  Returned to Nigeria in 1982 and did his National Youth Service between 1982 and 1983 at Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Warri.

He joined the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State as Lecturer II in 1983.  In 1987, seeking to get to the top, he went to Anambra State University of Technology, Enugu for his Ph.D which he successfully completed in 1990 and was the first Ph.D graduate of Engineering of the University. Between 1989 and 1990 he was a Research Fellow in South Dakota University of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.  Returned to Federal Polytechnic, Idah in 1990 and rose to the position of a Chief Lecturer in 1994. Between 1995 and 1997 became a Director of School of Metallurgical and Materials Technology.

In 1997 he transferred his service to the University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as a Senior Lecturer in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and was appointed the pioneer Acting Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering the same year by Professor FolaLasisi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo.  In 1998, he was appointed the Coordinator of the Faculty of Engineering and held this position till 1999 when he became the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.  In February, 2000, Professor Akpan H.  Ekpo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo appointed him the Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering, a position he held  till  20^th July 2000, when he was appointed the first Special Adviser on Science and Technology to the Government of Akwa Ibom State by His, Excellency, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.  Prof. Asuquo was responsible for effective and profitable management of the Bureau of Science and Technology.  He provided proper direction and coordination in the formulation and execution of the Science and Technology policy in the State.  It is worthy of note that Akwa Ibom was the first State in the Country to create Bureau of Science and Technology.  He created a platform for the establishment of a Research and Development (R &D) oriented University, Akwa Ibom University of Technology (AKUTECH). Formulated and executed information, communication and Technology policy in the State.  In 2003, he was appointed Honorable Commissioner for Science and Technology in Akwa Ibom State by His Excellency, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah.  Prof. Asuquo was responsible for consolidating efforts in designing and building the Research and Technology driven University – AKUTECH.  He expanded ICT capacity building for productivity improvement in Ministries, Department and Agencies.

He built capacity of School leavers for direct self employment in services such as Web-design, VSAT, Network and Data Management.  He was responsible for human capacity development in the State through Victor Attah Digital Opportunities Centre (VADOC).  He was involved in the Design and building of a Science Park to provide the needed infrastructure for IT, R & D and Software development and production.  This project was not however completed at his exit in 2007. In 2006, Prof. Asuquo was at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG) at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts United States of America where he bagged a Certificate in Science, Technology and Innovations.

In August, 2007, he returned to the University of Uyo and was appointed Acting Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering in January, 2008.  He held this position till January 2011. In January 2011, he was appointed the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering by Prof. (Mrs) Comfort Ekpo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo. He was promoted Associate Professor in October 2010.  In October 2013 he was promoted Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.  Prof.  Asuquo has promoted the growth of his profession in Nigeria and had served as the President of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society between 2009 and 2012.

He is a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (FNAEng), a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), a Fellow of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society(FNMS), a Fellow of Institute of Quality Assurance of Nigeria (FIQAN), Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Industrial Administration (FNIIA) and a Fellow of Corporate Management and Strategic Planning (FCMSP).  He is registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Prof.  Asuquo is very versatile.  He has written many books, the most outstanding being Foundry Technology, Science and Technology in Akwa Ibom State: Visions and Perspectives, Transforming the Landscape of Akwa Ibom State through Science and Technology and Wealth creation through commercializing Science and Technology Innovations in Akwa Ibom State. He is the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and a Senator of the University of Uyo.  He is a beneficiary of many International, National, State and Community awards.  He has to his credit numerous publications in International, National and referred proceedings. Prof.  Asuquo is a patent holder on cassava processing machine.  He is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is the Coordinator of Christ the Redeemers Friends International, Akwa Ibom Chapter and the Chairman of Akwa Ibom Province 1 Mission Board.  He is well travelled and is married to Mrs. Felicia Linus Asuquo and blessed with four children.