Nigerian AI Professor Celestine Iwendi Celebrates Double International Recognition with IEEE President’s Coin, Advance HE Principal Fellowship

Oluchi Chibuzor

Nigerian-born artificial intelligence expert and Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Greater Manchester, Professor Celestine Iwendi, has recorded two significant international achievements in November 2026, receiving the IEEE President’s Coin and attaining the prestigious Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) of Advance HE.

The double recognition highlights his contributions to engineering, artificial intelligence, academic leadership and the advancement of teaching and learning in higher education.

Recognition at the UK Parliament

On 3 November 2026, Professor Iwendi received the IEEE President’s Coin during the IEEE Future Automation programme held at the UK Parliament in London.

The recognition from the 2026 IEEE President represents a significant professional honour, acknowledging Professor Iwendi’s contributions to the international engineering community and his commitment to advancing technological innovation, professional engagement and collaboration.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is one of the world’s largest technical professional organisations, with a global network of engineers, scientists, researchers and technology professionals.

Professor Iwendi, who serves as an IEEE Brand Ambassador and IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer, has been actively involved in international engineering leadership, professional development and research collaboration.

He previously chaired the 2024 IEEE Computer Society Worldwide Election Committee and served on the IEEE Sweden Section Board.

The parliamentary recognition also reflects the growing international visibility of the Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIoTh), which he leads at the University of Greater Manchester.

Another Milestone: Principal Fellowship of Advance HE

Just three days after the parliamentary programme, Professor Iwendi received confirmation on 6 November 2026 that he had achieved Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) of Advance HE, a distinguished professional recognition for sustained strategic leadership and influence on teaching and learning in higher education.

Principal Fellowship recognises experienced educational leaders whose contributions demonstrate significant influence on academic practice, institutional development and the enhancement of student learning.

The achievement follows approximately one year of preparation, critical reflection, evidence gathering and engagement with senior academic mentors and advocates.

Speaking on the recognition, Professor Iwendi expressed gratitude to the colleagues who supported him throughout the demanding process.

“This has been one year of hard work, reflection, revisions and determination. I am particularly grateful to my advocates and colleagues who took time from their busy schedules to mentor, challenge and sometimes torment me in the pursuit of excellence. Their support, including the many late nights and early mornings, made this achievement possible,”he said.

He acknowledged Professor George, Dr. Awolowo, Dr Morris, Prof. Iwi and Sam Johnson for their encouragement, guidance and constructive criticism throughout the process.

A Distinguished Career in Artificial Intelligence

With more than 26 years of experience across academia, research and professional engineering, Professor Iwendi has established an international reputation in artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, intelligent systems, cybersecurity and AI-driven healthcare.

He is Head of the Centre of Intelligence of Things at the University of Greater Manchester, where he leads interdisciplinary research, international partnerships, doctoral training and innovation programmes.

His international research standing has also attracted significant recognition.

In the Scholarly Index Top 1000 Scholars 2026 rankings for AI in Healthcare, he was ranked 57th globally and 2nd in Great Britain for research impact during 2021–2025. His lifetime rankings placed him 125th globally and 6th in Great Britain.

He has also appeared in the Elsevier–Stanford World’s Top 2% Scientists database for six consecutive years and was recognised by ScholarGPS as a Highly Ranked Scholar in 2024.

In 2025, he received the Herbert Simon Award for contributions to Information Technology and Decision Making.

Advancing the Next Generation of Researchers

Beyond his research accomplishments, Professor Iwendi has continued to champion academic mentorship, international collaboration and opportunities for emerging researchers.

Through CIoTh, he works with postgraduate students, doctoral researchers, academic institutions and industry partners to translate advances in artificial intelligence into practical solutions addressing healthcare, sustainability and societal challenges.

His recent achievements reinforce the importance of connecting technological excellence with educational leadership.

Reflecting on both recognitions, Professor Iwendi said,”Receiving the IEEE President’s Coin and achieving Principal Fellowship of Advance HE within the same week is profoundly meaningful. One represents recognition of my contributions to the international engineering profession, while the other reflects my commitment to educational leadership and developing the next generation of scholars. Together, they reaffirm my belief that research excellence must go hand in hand with mentorship, innovation and service to humanity.”

The two milestones mark a memorable November for Professor Iwendi and the University of Greater Manchester, further strengthening his professional standing across the international engineering and higher education communities.

For Professor Iwendi, the achievements represent not the end of a journey, but renewed motivation to advance artificial intelligence, empower emerging researchers and strengthen international academic collaboration.