Thin Films, Big Possibilities
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A professor's life's work, in one lecture
An inaugural lecture marks a scholar's elevation to full professorship. It is the moment a professor presents a lifetime of research to colleagues, students and the public.
On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Professor R. A. Chikwenze, Professor of Solid State Physics in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, will deliver the 14th Inaugural Lecture of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, titled “Thin Films, Big Possibilities”. His research develops semiconductor thin films for solar cells and optoelectronic devices, grown by low-cost chemical deposition.
The lecture begins at 11:00 am in the Senate Chamber, AE-FUNAI, Ndufu-Alike, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Daniel C. Nwachukwu. Staff, students, alumni and members of the public are welcome.
Professor R. A. Chikwenze
Professor Raphael Ananwude Chikwenze is Professor of Solid State Physics in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike. Born in Enugu-Otu Aguleri, Anambra State, he studied at the Anambra State College of Education (NCE, Mathematics and Physics), the University of Calabar (B.Sc. Ed., Physics), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (M.Sc., Solid State Physics) and Ebonyi State University (Ph.D., Physics). He taught at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, where he was Acting Head of Physics, before joining AE-FUNAI in 2014, where he coordinated the Physics programme from 2015 to 2019. His research covers nanostructured semiconductor thin films grown by low-cost chemical bath and solution growth methods, from selenides and oxides to core-shell and heterojunction films for solar cells and optoelectronic devices, in more than 30 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Chalcogenide Letters and Materials Research Express. A member of the Nigerian Institute of Physics and the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, he holds the traditional title of Aka-Eze of Iduu Eri and has served as Palace Secretary of the Obu-Gad Palace, Aguleri, since 2008.
His research develops semiconductor thin films for solar cells and optoelectronic devices, grown by low-cost chemical deposition.
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