# Nkemakonam Nwolisa Osadebe

Nkemakonam Nwolisa Osadebe (1955–2015) was a Nigerian academic professor of engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His researches has been cited in publications and practices involving civil engineering in Nigeria. He was the acting head of the civil engineering department in UNN from 1993 to 1996. From 2004 until 2008, he served as the director of the National Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre (NEMDC), an organisation in the university. Osadebe has held positions in the Nigerian educational system including Dean, Faculty of Engineering (2008–2010), chairman, University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka Campus Board of Governors from 2004 to 2007. In 2008, he earned the Vice-Chancellor's Award.
Osadebe was the chief editor of the Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH) from 2004 to 2007 as well as the Nigeria's delegate to California's Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from September 1989 to 2015.

## Early life and education

Osadebe was born on February 20, 1955, in Enugu State to Victor Nweke Osadebe and Eunice Ifeoma Osadebe of Umuezeani Adagbe Ifite Ogbunike in Oyi, Anambra State. In 1960, he began education at St. Peter's School, Enugu and Government College Afikpo from 1966. However, his secondary education was interrupted by the Nigerian Civil War. Osadebe resumed school after the war in 1970 and graduated in 1974. He furthered his education by attending the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he obtained his MSc and PhD in civil and structural engineering in 1981 and 1988 respectively. He also had a six-months Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in 1988 at Building Research Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria.

## Career

Osadebe was appointed Lecturer II and Head of Department of Civil Engineering in the then Anambra State University of Technology on September 1, 1982. Osadebe transferred his services to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering on August 30, 1990. He was promoted to the position of Professor of Civil Engineering and Structural Mechanics on October 1, 1998.

## Administrative positions

From 1993 to 1996, Osadebe was the acting head of the University of Nigeria's department of civil engineering. He was the director of the University of Nigeria's National Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre (NEMDC) from 2004 to 2008. From August 1, 2008, to August 1, 2010, Osadebe served as dean of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka's faculty of engineering. From 2004 to 2007, he also served as chairman of the Board of Governors at the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka Campus. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the Chief Editor of the Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH). From September 1989 to 2015, Osadebe represented Nigeria at the California Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. He also served in National Universities Commission accreditation teams.

## Fellowship and membership

Osadebe was a corporate member, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).Registered Engineer, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), member, International Panel of Experts of the National Accreditation Board of Ghana for professional accreditation of the civil engineering programmes and member of the Technical Review Committee on Federal Ministry of Education STEP-B Project, April 2008 – 2015. He was elected Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Administrators of Nigeria (FIIA).

## Awards

He received the University of Nigeria, Nsukka's Vice-Chancellor's Award in 2008 in recognition of his notable service to the institution.

## Personal life

Osadebe was ordained a deacon of the Anglican communion in 2008 and a canon of the Cathedral of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Nsukka, in 2014. He married a professor of pharmacy, Patience Ogoamaka Osadebe and they have six children. Nwolisa Osadebe died on October 23, 2015.

## Publications

* N. N. Osadebe & T. U. Nwakonobi, "Structural Characteristics Of Laterized Concrete At Optimum Mix Proportion"
* Mbadike, Elvis M. & N. N. Osadebe, "Application of Scheffe’s model in optimization of compressive strength of lateritic concrete"
* Anyaegbunam, A.J. & N. N. Osadebe, "The Dynamic Stiffness Matrix Of A Beam-Column Element"
* BO Mama & NN Osadebe, “Comparative Analysis Of Two Mathematical Models For Prediction Of Compressive Strength Of Sandcrete Blocks Using Alluvial Deposit”
* C. A. Chidolue & N. N. Osadebe, "Alternative First Principle Approach For Determination Of Elements Of Beam Stiffness Matrix”
* GC Ezeokpube, SB Singh & NN Osadebe, “Numerical and Experimental Modeling of the Static Response of Simply Supported Thin-Walled Box Girder Bridges”
* O. Orieh, N. Osadebe, “Mathematical Model For Prediction Of Flexural Strength Of Mound Soil-Cement Blended Concrete”
* N N Osadebe & Theresa Ukamaka Nwakonobi, “Structural Characteristics Of Laterized Concrete At Optimum Mix Proportion”