Nigerian-Born AI Professor Celestine Iwendi Wins Prestigious UK Black History Month Leadership Award

Oluchi Chibuzor

Nigerian-born Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, Professor Celestine Iwendi, has won the Community Leadership and Empowerment Award – Strategic Excellence at the 2026 Black History Month Recognition Evening organised by the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN).

The prestigious ceremony, held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, Manchester, United Kingdom, brought together distinguished professionals, community leaders, academics and other stakeholders to celebrate Black excellence, leadership, cultural heritage and outstanding contributions to society.

Iwendi, who heads the Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIoTh) at the University of Greater Manchester, was recognised for his contributions to strategic leadership, research innovation, community development, mentorship and the empowerment of emerging professionals and young people.

The achievement followed his nomination, which had earlier been celebrated by the University of Greater Manchester in an official announcement published on September 14, 2026.

With more than 25 years of academic and professional experience, Iwendi has built an international reputation in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things and intelligent systems, with applications spanning healthcare, engineering and other emerging technologies.

He has consistently championed the application of research and innovation to addressing societal challenges, while promoting educational opportunities, international partnerships and capacity development, particularly among African researchers and young innovators.

His scholarly accomplishments have also earned international recognition, including his inclusion among the world’s top two per cent of influential scientists in the Elsevier–Stanford rankings.

Colleagues and Supporters Celebrate with Award Winner

The occasion was made particularly memorable by the presence of colleagues, researchers and supporters who accompanied Professor Iwendi to the prestigious awards ceremony.

From the CIoTh team, he was joined by Emmanuel Edim, Software Engineer and Associate Researcher at CIoTh, Vice President of the IEEE Student Branch at the University of Greater Manchester, and Visiting Research Associate at David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUS), Uburu; Majde Karameh, AI Business Development Manager at CIoTh; Austin Orumwense, Cybersecurity Specialist at Novacoast and Visiting Associate Researcher at CIoTh; and CIoTh interns Sharon Emmanuel and Gift Oghenekioja.

Also in attendance were Richard Okosodo, Software Solution Architect and Lead Software Developer with expertise in AI/ML engineering, backend systems and quantitative trading systems; Foluso Olateju, Doctoral Researcher (PhD Computing) at the University of Greater Manchester and Senior DevOps and Software Engineer specialising in enterprise systems, cloud architecture and reliability; and Oyinkansola Soleye, Technical Product Manager at Tekk Collective.

Their presence underscored the importance of professional relationships, teamwork and the strong network of colleagues and emerging researchers associated with Iwendi’s academic and professional journey. The celebration also provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of mentorship, collaboration and collective achievement in advancing scientific innovation and empowering future generations.

Award Reinforces Commitment to African Youth Empowerment

Reacting to the recognition, Iwendi expressed appreciation to the Caribbean and African Health Network, the award organisers and the selection committee for acknowledging his contributions to leadership and community development. He also thanked the leadership of the University of Greater Manchester, his colleagues, students, research collaborators, family and friends for their continued encouragement and support.

The award-winning professor reaffirmed his commitment to promoting African excellence through education, technological innovation, research collaboration and youth empowerment.

He emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for young Africans to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

For Iwendi, Africa’s future lies significantly in sustained investments in education, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies capable of transforming economies and improving livelihoods.

A Milestone for the University of Greater Manchester

The recognition also represents another achievement for the Centre of Intelligence of Things and the University of Greater Manchester.

Under Iwendi’s leadership, CIoTh has continued to expand its research activities, international academic collaborations, postgraduate research development and engagement with industry and wider society.

The award highlights the growing contributions of Nigerian academics and professionals to international scholarship, scientific innovation and community development.

It also reinforces the importance of recognising African excellence and supporting the next generation of researchers, entrepreneurs and technology leaders.

The Caribbean and African Health Network’s Black History Month Recognition Evening celebrates individuals and organisations whose work has made meaningful contributions to communities, leadership, social inclusion and empowerment across the United Kingdom.

For Professor Iwendi, the recognition marks another milestone in a career dedicated to advancing knowledge, developing talent and using technology to create opportunities for society.