Nigerian representative wins Young Member Volunteer of the Year

Winner, Ifeanyi Onyenanu, has been recognised for his extensive activities organised as young member representative for Nigeria

The Institution’s young member representative (YMR) for Nigeria joined the IMechE in 2009. 

During his role, Onyenanu has created 10 new young member’s student chapters, formed four more Formula Student teams, organised technical sessions for student chapters, hosted the first ever Nigeria heat for the Speak out for Engineering (SOfE) competition in November 2015, and kicked started a collaboration with the Nigeria Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

He was also appointed the Middle East and Africa YM Vice Representative in 2016. Onyenanu began his appointment by hosting the 2nd Nigeria heat SOfE Competition in May 2016. In addition, he is currently working out strategies to host the Global Engineering Debate (GED) in Nigeria on 30 September 2016.

Onyenanu said: “I feel so elated, happy and motivated to be the IMechE Volunteer of the Year, 2016. I see it as a great encouragement and a boost to my career. I also see it as a challenge as I have to make sure I live up to the expectations of the Institution, volunteers and the young members as a role model.”

Talking about the highlights of his role as YMR, Onyenanu said that he was proud to witness the innovations from the young members in Nigeria at the SOfE competition’s. He added: “Seeing Nigeria teams participating in the Formula Student Competition was something I will be ever proud to have started as a Young Member Representative.”

Onyenanu was originally nominated for the Young Member of the Year awards in 2015 by the then Middle East and Africa YM Representative, Martins Alozie, and won the Engineering Innovation Award.

“The IMechE has helped me gain the respect of my peers and to become a role model for other graduates here in Nigeria. It has also proved useful in providing me opportunities to network with other professionals and has helped me in progressing through my career,” said Onyenanu.  “I would recommend membership of the Institution and professional registration to other engineers because my membership with the institution has gone a long way affecting me positively. Now, I am proud to be an engineer.

More Young Member of the Year Awards information can be found on our website

Download guidance notes for the awards, including criteria for IMechE Volunteer of the Year, here.