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From far off Germany, has emerged another Nigerian gift and marvel to the science world. Brainy, athletic and handsome with a visible dimple, Brando Chidi Okolo could easily pass for a sports superstar or a movie star but he is a Professor of materials science and engineering. Okolo specializes in modelling process; structure relationships in engineering materials; metals, ceramics, composites, nano structured and advanced materials system at the German University in Cairo, Egypt.
At 38, he is believed to be the first black African full Professor of Engineering at any German University, as well as the youngest. A 1995 graduate of Chemical Engineering from Enugu State University of Science and Technology and currently one of the leading researchers in 3D printing, a fast developing technology in the advanced world.
Okolo is one of the inventors and founders of INDMATEC, a German company trailblazing the development of a unique way to extrude raw Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) into a quality filament form, compatible with FDM 3D printing technology. Industry experts believe that PEEK had previously only been compatible with SLS 3D printing processes due to its high melting point. As we learned, the necessary melting temperature for PEEK made it impossible to use for fabrication of parts using FDM 3D printers. But the introduction of an extruder capable of attaining temperatures up to 400 degrees centigrade by Okolo’s company made the filament workable. This development is a significant step towards printing industrial materials on relatively inexpensive desktop 3D printers.
Industry experts note that PEEK is a very important material with variety of applications in different fields including medicine. Among its qualities is the capability of withstanding mechanical loads necessary in most engineering operations while also being approved for food and drug contact applications. It can be used in medical implants for orthopedics as support structures in bone fracture, cages and rods for spinal implant, and it also has uses in dental prosthetics such as crowns and bridges. Combining PEEK with 3D printing technologies, experts say, will lead to the ability to customize parts and provide affordable opportunities for small businesses because of lower investment on 3D printing machines and operator training.
Okolo is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of INDMATEC, a leading German high tech company dealing with 3D printing technology which he co-founded in September 2013 with two others, Tony Tran-Mai, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Lars Pfotzer, a Robotics Automation and FDM 3D printing expert. Tran-Mai and Okolo met at a conference where they both served as speakers on 3D printing while Pfotzer joined them later Brando’s technological prowess shatters the myth that in Germany (Europe economic power and a respected global industrial economy) Science, Technology and Engineering is only for selected people, and that in fact it is never for Africans.
Professor Brando Okolo is also the General Secretary of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in Europe (NIDO), Germany Chapter and in a 2008 article he wrote for African Heritage Magazine titled “Poor, lost, hungry and helpless: the pitiful cloak upon mankind”, he expressed concern for the African plight and social justice.
He noted then that:
“To develop Africa we will need to reconstruct our current approaches and attitudes towards the poor and the weak in Africa and indeed other parts of the world. Resources will need to be heavily supplied to: (i) Create fair trade agreements with Africa, (ii) End global tolerance of African dictators, (iii) Relax immigration restrictions on African countries, (iv) Invest in skilled labor for Africa, (v) Open bilateral cooperation with African nations especially in the areas of transportation, energy, health, education, agriculture and the development of trustworthy political institutions, and (vi) Assist Africa fight the war against environmental damage.”
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