Nigerian scholar receives international recognition over research on blood platelets/

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The Nigeria diaspora offers Nigerians both at home and abroad the opportunity to engage, scale and measure our collective value as a people. The stories of successful Nigerians in the diaspora have been highlighted and showcased since the turning of the tides and Nigerians are very proud to see individuals like themselves excel in their calling, duties, vocations, and of course in their professional and humanitarian ambitions far from home. The underlining value in this recognition is birthed in the fact that every Nigerian has the potential to exceed beyond measures if placed in the right environment.

Nigerian professor Dr. Obuks based in the prestigious University of Manchester who hails from the Umiaghwa Abraka Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State and also son to HRM Luke Erede Ejohwomu, Adakaji 1 (JP) KSJI of blessed memory, Ovie of Abraka Kingdom (1994 – 2010), Dr. Obuks Ejohwomu, has received international recognition over an article published in the prestigious International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management. Again in view of conversations and research into his background, this has come as no major surprise considering the amount of passion, effort, and work that Dr. Obuks is fervently known for and associated with. He won praises after helping helped Manchester City Council (MCC) coordinate and test thousands of pieces of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) so that they could be delivered to key workers in the city.

Dr. Obuks is the Director Commercial Project Management, Admissions Tutor, Management of Projects (MSc) Programmes, and Research Group PGR Lead in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Civil Engineering. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy the Unit Lead for Commercial and Procurement.  Prior to joining MACE, he has worked as a contracts manager on several building construction projects totaling over a N100m (Lukayson Ventures Ltd), a systems engineer in the telemetry and laboratory business area of Scottish Water, Glasgow, Research Assistant on a Black Country learning and skills action research project (University of Wolverhampton), Research Fellow on the EPSRC Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre (HaCIRIC), Programme Manager (W D Consults Ltd), Lecturer in Civil Engineering (Covenant University), Senior Lecturer in Project Management and Head, Department of Management Technology (Bells University of Technology).

In the past, he has consulted for the likes of Coffey International on DFID projects (Growth and Employment in States (GEMS)) in Nigeria, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society, and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC). He obtained his BEng degree in Civil Engineering from UNIBEN, MSc in Systems Engineering from Heriot-Watt, and Ph.D. in Construction Engineering and Management from Wolverhampton.

The article explained the short shelf-life of platelets together with their stochastic demand and variable supply create problematic decision-making for inventory managers who seek to maintain optimal stock levels.

The said paper hints at a novel simulation model that acts as a decision support tool for identifying optimal stock levels to guarantee the availability of stock and, eliminate wastage and outages within the platelet supply chain. An abstract from the paper explains further: “A multi-method approach is delineated upon that combines agent-based and discrete event modeling built on software using data collected from typical UK Stock Holding Units (SHUs). The model simulates the demand and supply of 24 different platelet types and recommends the appropriate stock level at SHUs. Adopting these stock levels guarantees stock availability and improves performance at the SHU by reducing wastage by 78%. This research not only represents the first attempt to fully understand the UK platelet supply chain but also presents an advanced simulation model that adopts a ‘pull’ system of platelet inventory management.

“Further, the concept of resilience is integrated into the design of the solution methodology by testing the model’s behaviour on unexpected disruptions in the supply chain.”

The said study is titled: ‘A resilient approach to modeling the supply and demand of platelets in the United Kingdom blood supply chain (2021).

Read More here: https://doi.org/10.1080/17509653.2021.1892548

MACE summer internship funded project findings handover to be implemented by Head Major Projects Manchester City Council. 

His passionate researches also focus on commercial, social value diffusion, and productivity. He also has expertise in impact-driven systems optimization and manpower modeling. Dr, Obuks has recently led a notable lifesaving Covid-19 PPE testing project for Manchester City Council that was published in medRxiv. Dr. Ejohwomu said: “The success of this project has in no small part been due to the deployment of invaluable project management knowledge that is most suitable for managing unknown unknowns at a time of disruption.

The research Dr. Ejohwomu led has also been internationally recognised as not only representing the first attempt to fully understand the UK platelet supply chain but also represents an advanced simulation model that adopts a ‘pull’ system of platelet inventory management. His current research interests on social value and systems optimization fit with the UN Sustainable Development Goals Good Health & Well-being and Sustainable Cities & Communities. Dr. Obuks leads PI on a successful Global Doctoral Research Network (GOLDEN) award that is modeling the carbon footprints of complex projects. PI on an ongoing multidisciplinary GCRF QR project investigating the social value of urban air monitoring (SQUARE). Co-I on an ongoing Health & Safety Executive/Lloyds Register Foundation research on the repurposing of composite (leading & lagging) safety indicators. Co-author of a recent Association of Project Management-funded productivity study.

Professor Martin Schröder, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, added: “I’m delighted our Faculty was able to help the City Council and our health workers. Many congratulations and thanks to Obuks. I am so proud of the staff in the Faculty and Obuks in particular. He is a star!”. Also, Barney Harle, Head of Major Projects at Manchester City Council, said: “I have never been prouder to work with a group of academic contacts than on this occasion. The way in which Obuks brought together a quality team of enlightened and enthusiastic fellow researchers and practitioners was outstanding.”

Dr. Obuks enjoys walking and networking and plays are major role in the unification of Nigerians in the diaspora and he is always keen to inspire, engage, mentor, and enlighten Nigerians at a crossroad or who are simply looking for a form of leadership conversation to engage with.