Professor Dr. Mike O. Onyekonwu is a Member of the Board of Geyser LNG Limited. A reservoir engineer by background, he served as a professor of oil and gas in the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, and a member of the University of Port Harcourt’s Senate.

Professor Mike Obi Onyekonwu is not only active in academia but also active in the oil and gas industry. He is the founder and first Managing Consultant of Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants Limited – an indigenous consultancy outfit specializing in Reservoir and Well Management Studies, PVT and Environmental Sampling and Analysis, Manpower Development and Well Intervention Services, particularly Slickline Services. Laser Engineering also runs a Geosciences School accredited by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE). This School is one of the leaders in human capacity development in geosciences. Professor Onyekonwu is one of the leaders in Reservoir Engineering in Nigeria.

Professor Michael Obi Onyekonwu has been teaching at the University of Port-Harcourt Nigeria for more than forty years. He was the former Director of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port-Harcourt (2010-2015) and also a former member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) (2010-2016).
He equally served as the PTDF Gas Chair Professor of Petroleum and Gas Engineering (2004-2009) and First Chairman of Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) from 2010 to 2015. He later served as the Chairman of the Board of OGTAN (2015-2019). Professor Mike Onyekonwu was a member of University of Port-Harcourt Council (2010-2013) and a visiting Lecturer (1991) to the University of Leeds UK. He is a member of National University Commission CCMAS Committee and equally served on different accreditation bodies.

Professor Onyekonwu obtained a BSc. (First Class Honours) degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1978 from University of Ibadan Nigeria. Subsequently, he obtained an MS and PhD degrees in Petroleum Engineering from Stanford University California, United States of America (USA) in 1981 and 1985, respectively. He has participated in many courses run in the oil and gas industry including the Energy Seminar run in Paris by TOTAL E&P.
Professor Onyekonwu is a registered engineer and member of several professional organizations (SPE NSE, NiPetE, COREN, NIM, etc). He is a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Institution of Nigerian Petroleum Engineering, Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum Studies and also a Fellow of Oil and Gas Trainers’ Association of Nigeria.

In 2015 he was also inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc. in recognition of his distinguished achievement in the field of petroleum engineering and noteworthy service to the Society of Petroleum Engineers. In 2010, Professor Onyekonwu was awarded the African Regional Award for distinguished contributions to petroleum engineering in the area of Reservoir Description and Dynamics.

Between 2001-2002, Professor Onyekonwu was a Distinguished Lecturer of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Inc. Professor Onyekonwu has also served in different SPE Inc. committees (Education, Ethics, Paper Review and Reservoir Advisory Committee (EOR Group)). He has equally received many distinguished service awards from many organizations including student bodies. He received an award for recognition from Centre for Research Management (CREM) University of Port Harcourt for meaningful contributions to research.

Professor Onyekonwu was the Editor of Nigerian Oilfield Technical Review, a publication of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN). He was also a member, Editorial Board, Port Harcourt Chapter of Nigerian Society of Engineers. His interest is in oil and gas research and mentoring young professionals. He has published five books/monographs and more than 130 articles in reputable journals.

He is listed by Elsevier as one of the recognized authors in Nigeria for his publications from 2014 to 2020. Professor Onyekonwu has two patents. One is on his work on controlling fine migration in oil reservoir and the second on his work on hydrates. Professor Onyekonwu has attracted research grants from different companies and organization to the University of Port Harcourt and served as Principal Investigator.

Professor Onyekonwu is a philanthropist and active in Community Volunteer work. He supports SPE Nigerian Council activities. He is the Chairman of the Education Committee in his Community, Lilu in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State. This Committee awards scholarships to deserving students. He is equally a National Director of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and in-charge of Capacity Building in the South-South Region.
Professor Onyekonwu enjoys the game of football and listening to music particularly Christian music. He is married with children.