Dr. Adamu Girei Salihu

American University of Nigeria

Fall 2020

Dr. Adamu Girei Salihu is the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola. A Fall 2020 MIT-ETT Fellow, he is a specialist in Process Systems Engineering and Nanotechnology. His transition to AUN followed a successful tenure at the University of Maiduguri, and he has since become a key figure in modernizing engineering education in North-Eastern Nigeria. His research focuses on the intersection of energy efficiency and material science. Specifically, he investigates the use of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of polymers. Additionally, he works on “Self-Optimizing Control” strategies for industrial processes and the design of Heat Exchanger Networks (HEN) to reduce energy penalties in coal-fired power plants retrofitted for carbon capture. Dr. Salihu holds a Ph.D. in Process Systems and Energy Engineering from Cranfield University, UK, and an MSc from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. His diverse educational background—spanning the UK, Middle East, and US (via MIT)—has heavily influenced his teaching philosophy. He is a certified practitioner of the Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program (KTCP) and actively uses “Evidence-Based STEM” pedagogy to shift students from rote learning to critical thinking. As a registered engineer with COREN and the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE), Dr. Salihu is deeply committed to solving local energy challenges. He frequently mentors students on projects related to waste-to-energy conversion and sustainable chemical processing, ensuring that the next generation of engineers in the Yola region is equipped to drive industrial development.