Meet Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, the FUTO Alumnus Who Co-Designed iPhone Sensors

Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe is widely regarded as a leading figure in the global technology ecosystem, best known for his role in co-designing the XL sensor deployed in Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices.

A distinguished scholar and entrepreneur, Ekekwe has successfully connected Silicon Valley–driven innovation with Africa’s industrial and technological advancement. His rise from Abia State to global prominence in microelectronics reflects a remarkable blend of academic brilliance and professional achievement.

He began his academic journey at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), where he graduated with First-Class Honours. Driven by an insatiable quest for knowledge, Prof. Ekekwe went on to earn multiple master’s and doctoral degrees from institutions across the world, with core expertise in microelectronics, semiconductors, and robotics. He holds several patents, particularly in medical robotics and micro-systems, and has pioneered sensor-based technologies used in consumer electronics and healthcare solutions.

Beyond his technical innovations, Prof. Ekekwe has made significant impact as a business leader and educator. He is the Founder and Chairman of FASMICRO Group, recognized as Africa’s foremost systems and microelectronics company. He also chairs Tekedia Institute, an innovative business school that has trained and mentored thousands of African entrepreneurs in business strategy and technology. In addition, he is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, where he provides in-depth analysis of African markets and global technology trends.

His outstanding contributions have earned him numerous international honors, including recognition as a TED Fellow for his transformative ideas, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader for his influence on global innovation and policy, and a recipient of the IBM Global Entrepreneur Award for building scalable technology ventures. He has also been celebrated nationally, being named among the “60 Nigerians Making Lives Matter in 60 Years.”

A native of Ovim in Abia State, Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe continues to inspire a new generation of African innovators, exemplifying how world-class excellence can emerge from Nigeria and make a lasting global impact.