The President General of Ifitedunu Town Union and former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Branch, Professor Stephen Uchenna Ufoaroh, has received the Rotary Community Service Award of Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contributions to community development, educational advancement and humanitarian service.
The award was presented on Saturday, July 25, 2026, during the installation ceremony of Rotarian Christopher Ewah as the 25th President of the Rotary Club of Awka GRA, District 9142, held in Awka, Anambra State.
In a further show of appreciation, the Ifitedunu Students’ Union of Nnamdi Azikiwe University presented Prof. Ufoaroh with a specially crafted portrait in recognition of his unwavering commitment to education, youth development and the advancement of Ifitedunu students and the wider community.
Responding to the honour, Prof. Ufoaroh expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Awka GRA for the recognition, describing the award as a call to even greater service. He reaffirmed his dedication to promoting education, youth empowerment, research, innovation and sustainable community development.
The recognition highlights Prof. Ufoaroh’s long-standing commitment to leveraging education, leadership and innovation as instruments for societal transformation.
Over the years, Ufoaroh has earned distinction not only as an accomplished engineer and academic but also as a visionary community leader whose initiatives have positively impacted lives within Ifitedunu and beyond.
A Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ufoaroh has made significant contributions to research in the fields of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence and Biomedical Engineering. His work has attracted institutional research grants and produced innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
Among his notable achievements is the development of an online platform currently used for Students’ Union elections at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
His research team also gained international recognition for developing an Artificial Intelligence-based COVID-19 Safety Protocol Adherence System, which ranked among the top 25 research innovations selected from more than 100 universities across 19 countries.
Beyond academia, Prof. Ufoaroh has remained committed to grassroots development. As President General of Ifitedunu Town Union, he introduced scholarship programmes covering WAEC and JAMB registration as well as school fees for indigent students. He has also facilitated employment opportunities for graduates and supported young people pursuing vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
In addition, he organized a career awareness programme for over 450 Primary Six pupils from 14 primary schools in Ifitedunu, encouraging them to pursue academic excellence and make informed career choices from an early stage.
