In a powerful celebration of Nigerian innovation, leadership, and technical brilliance, mechanical engineer and energy strategist Ikiomoworio Nicholas Dienagha was honoured as the 2022 City People Outstanding Talents Award winner in STEM. Held in Lagos on December 5, 2022, the prestigious awards ceremony brought together dignitaries, scholars, and innovators from across the country, and Ikiomoworio was present in person, walking to the stage to a standing ovation as he accepted his plaque and addressed a room full of peers, mentors, and admirers.
Organised annually by City People Magazine, the awards spotlight exceptional individuals whose achievements have advanced their fields, reshaped narratives, and inspired national pride. In the highly competitive STEM category, over 100,000 nominations were received from within Nigeria and abroad. Yet, Ikiomoworio’s selection was unanimous, a testament to his track record in energy innovation, environmental stewardship, and systems thinking.
“This award is not just a celebration of my past,” he began, holding the microphone with quiet confidence. “It is a challenge to remain committed to building systems that uplift communities, strengthen industry, and protect the world we share.”
At the centre of his distinguished career is his role as Senior Project Engineer at Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). In this capacity, Ikiomoworio successfully managed capital projects exceeding $100 million in value, coordinating operations across high-risk, high-value infrastructure in Nigeria’s energy sector. His leadership transformed not just operations, but entire frameworks for safety, sustainability, and performance.
Among his most impactful achievements was the deployment of an automated leak detection system across Shell’s pipelines—a first in Sub-Saharan Africa. The project prevented environmental damage and helped Shell avoid fines as high as $250,000 per day. “Prevention, to me, is the highest form of responsibility,” he said. “I didn’t want to be the engineer cleaning up a spill. I wanted to be the engineer who designed the system so the spill never happened.”
In another landmark initiative, Ikiomoworio co-developed Turbo Tray Technology at the Soku Gas Plant in collaboration with Shell Global Solutions in The Hague. The innovation increased output capacity by 33 per cent and reduced glycol usage by 25 per cent. The project earned him the Shell SVP Nigeria Award and was selected for global replication. “Turbo Tray wasn’t just a technical upgrade,” he explained. “It was a new standard in cleaner, more efficient, and more intelligent energy production.”
But his contributions didn’t stop there. Ikiomoworio led the development of Shell’s first digital surplus inventory system—a live platform for tracking, redistributing, and monetising unused materials. The system saved Shell over $25 million and improved accountability, logistics, and procurement across assets. “Energy isn’t just about generation,” he noted. “It’s about smart systems—systems that reduce waste, optimise resources, and deliver value far beyond the production line.”
His efforts in emissions reduction are equally commendable. Through gas-to-air instrument conversions and process optimization, Ikiomoworio helped cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent across several Shell Nigeria assets. He also played a strategic leadership role in the Assa North Gas Development Project, one of Nigeria’s largest energy investments, ensuring mechanical static engineering compliance while embedding sustainability throughout the life cycle of the project.
Beyond engineering, he is a prolific scholar. Ikiomoworio has authored more than ten peer-reviewed papers on emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital twins, AI, and low-carbon transition models for gas projects. His work is widely cited in academic and policy literature and has appeared in IRE Journals, GSC Advanced Research, and Magna Scientia, among others. “Writing, for me, is the bridge between what we do and what others can learn,” he told the audience. “It ensures the impact doesn’t end with one project or one company—it lives on.”
He serves as section editor for the International Journal of Management and Entrepreneurship Research and has presented at major engineering forums including Shell Engineering Week, where his sessions on mechanical systems and predictive monitoring have shaped internal practices and industry expectations alike.
Holding certifications such as the Project Management Professional (PMP), the Project Management Qualification (PMQ), and Mechanical Static Technical Authority Level 3 (Shell certified), Ikiomoworio is a respected member of both the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Project Management Institute. These credentials, paired with real-world results, have positioned him as a trusted voice in energy reform, infrastructure resilience, and sustainability-driven innovation.
“You don’t build a legacy by hoarding knowledge,” he said from the podium. “You build it by mentoring others, sharing what you’ve learned, and creating systems that last beyond you.”
In its official statement, City People Magazine praised him as “a symbol of Nigeria’s intellectual and technical excellence—an engineer whose work protects the environment, strengthens industry, and inspires others to lead with integrity.” The editorial board emphasized that the award was not just recognition of what he has done, but a vote of confidence in the future he is building.
As he smiled for photographs, speaking humbly with young engineers and community leaders who approached him after the ceremony, it was clear that Ikiomoworio is not only a visionary but a teacher. “Engineering should never be abstract,” he said one last time before leaving the stage. “It must touch lives. Whether I’m building a gas system or writing a paper—my aim is to make life safer, cleaner, and better.”
Now celebrated as the 2022 City People Outstanding Talents Award Winner in STEM, Ikiomoworio represents the kind of leadership Nigeria urgently needs: precise, principled, and future-focused. His work continues to ripple across projects, publications, and policies—not only elevating national standards but proving that Nigerian engineers can lead the global transition toward a cleaner, smarter energy future.
