Professor Frank Nwoye Okafor
Chairman and Chief Executive Commissioner, ASERC
Profile Overview
Profile Overview
Professor Frank Nwoye Okafor is a distinguished engineer, academic, and power systems expert with over 35 years of professional and research experience in Nigeria and internationally. His work spans university teaching, advanced power systems research, regulatory leadership, and national infrastructure development, with a focus on system stability, renewable integration, and electricity reform.
Education & Specialisation
Professor Okafor holds a B.Sc. (Hons), M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Lagos, specialising in Power and Control Systems. His academic and research foundation has positioned him as one of Nigeria’s leading experts in power system dynamics, control theory, and energy system optimisation.
Academic & Research Career
He began his career at the University of Lagos, where his pioneering work on computer-aided control systems, grid stability, and system optimisation offered critical insights into Nigeria’s evolving power system challenges. His research contributions supported the adoption of improved frameworks for system reliability and performance.
As a German Research Foundation (DFG) Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany, he designed the Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) model now widely used in global wind energy systems. This contribution remains one of the most impactful academic advancements in the integration of renewable energy into modern power grids.
Professional & Regulatory Experience
Beyond academia, Professor Okafor served as Project Manager (System Studies) for the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), where he led critical grid evacuation studies that supported Nigeria’s major generation and transmission expansion programmes.
He was later appointed Commissioner for Engineering Performance and Monitoring at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), where he provided technical oversight, strengthened performance standards, and supported regulatory decisions based on scientific and engineering evidence.
Contributions to Power & Renewable Energy Systems
His groundbreaking work on control systems, DFIG modelling, and grid stability has influenced both national and global practices in the integration of renewable energy. His research continues to guide how modern grids adapt to increasing levels of wind and solar generation while maintaining system security and operational reliability.
Professional Recognition
Professor Okafor is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, recognitions that reflect his exemplary contributions to engineering practice, academia, and national development.
Current Role at ASERC
As Chairman and Chief Executive Commissioner of the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), Professor Okafor provides visionary leadership in driving regulatory innovation, improving electricity governance, strengthening consumer protection, and positioning Anambra as a leader in Nigeria’s energy transition and sustainable power development.