Institutional Research Week 2025
Professor Software Engineering
Faculty of Computing and Informatics
Inaugural Lecture: “Applied Software Engineering and Causal Artificial Intelligence: A Paradigm Shift for Propelling Innovative Societal Value Changes”
Professor Ambrose Azeta is a distinguished software engineer and academic at NUST, serving as a Professor in the Faculty of Computing and Informatics. His inaugural lecture, titled “APPLIED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND CAUSAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A PARADIGM SHIFT FOR PROPELLING INNOVATIVE SOCIETAL VALUE CHANGES,” underscores his focus on harnessing software solutions and AI to drive social innovation. With over a decade of industry experience prior to academia, Prof. Azeta has applied real-world insights to his teaching and research since joining NUST. His expertise lies in applied software engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, which he leverages to develop e-learning systems, voice-enabled platforms, and mobile applications addressing needs in education, healthcare, and financial services. A prolific scholar with more than 130 publications, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and earned accolades for his research and teaching, reflecting a significant impact on Namibia’s technological advancement.
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Professor: Economics
Faculty of Commerce, Human Sciences & Education
Inaugural Lecture: Foreign Direct Investment-Led Development in Africa: Myth, Evidence, and Policy Directions
Professor Teresia Kaulihowa is a leading Namibian economist and the first woman in the country to attain the rank of Professor of Economics. Serving as a Professor of Economics and Associate Dean at NUST’s Faculty of Commerce, Human Sciences & Education, she brings over 15 years of academic experience. Her inaugural lecture, titled “Foreign Direct Investment-Led Development in Africa: Myth, Evidence, and Policy Directions,” reflects her expertise in development economics and a critical analysis of the foreign direct investment–growth nexus. Prof. Kaulihowa’s research spans macroeconomic policy, competition regulation, and development finance, yielding over 30 publications that inform policy debates in Namibia and beyond. She has guided more than 35 graduate students and played a key role in developing economics curricula. Beyond academia, she contributes to national and continental bodies such as competition commissions and economic research networks where her insights help shape policy and drive sustainable development strategies.
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Professor Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and the built Environment
Inaugural Lecture: Engineering Innovation for Sustainable Development: Bridging Research, Industry, and Community Impact in Namibia
Inaugural Lecture: “Engineering Innovation for Sustainable Development: Bridging Research, Industry, and Community Impact in Namibia” Professor Fillemon Nduvu Nangolo is a distinguished mechanical engineer whose career exemplifies the fusion of academic research with practical innovation. As a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Head of NUST’s Lüderitz Campus, he advances engineering innovation through research and education. His inaugural lecture, “Engineering Innovation for Sustainable Development: Bridging Research, Industry, and Community Impact in Namibia,” highlights his commitment to leveraging engineering solutions for societal benefit. Prof. Nangolo’s expertise spans renewable energy systems, industrial and manufacturing engineering, and mechanical dynamics. He has published over 50 scholarly works and supervised numerous graduate theses, contributing to knowledge in areas like predictive maintenance, lean manufacturing, and water infrastructure. Notably, he has led projects that directly serve communities from 3D-printed medical devices during the COVID-19 pandemic to renewable-powered water desalination embodying a vision of engineering that drives sustainable development and community well-being. He also serves on national engineering and research boards, helping shape science and technology policy in Namibia.
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Professor: Transport Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Inaugural Lecture: Advancing Sustainable Transportation And Smart Mobility Solutions - “Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Professor Adewole Simon Oladele is a veteran civil engineer specializing in transportation and a driving force behind sustainable mobility initiatives. Now a Professor of Transport Engineering at NUST’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, he brings over 23 years of experience in academia and industry. His inaugural lecture, titled “Advancing Sustainable Transportation and Smart Mobility Solutions – ‘Prevention is better than cure’,” reflects his focus on proactive approaches to transportation infrastructure and intelligent mobility. Prof. Oladele’s expertise includes highway and pavement engineering, traffic operations, and the integration of artificial intelligence in transport planning. He has taught over 30 courses and supervised a generation of engineers, thereby building capacity in the field. With 47 peer-reviewed publications and presentations at more than 40 international conferences, he is a recognized voice in promoting smart, sustainable transport solutions. As a registered professional engineer active in multiple engineering societies, Prof. Oladele exemplifies a strong commitment to advancing his field.
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Professor: Industrial Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and the built Environment
Inaugural Lecture: Nature-Inspired Optimisation Algorithms: Advances and Applications in Healthcare Systems
Professor Michael Mutingi is an accomplished industrial engineer known for applying innovative, nature-inspired computational methods to real-world problems. A Professor of Industrial Engineering at NUST’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, he has a rich academic background that includes a doctorate in Engineering Management and experience at institutions in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Singapore. His inaugural lecture, titled “Nature-Inspired Optimisation Algorithms: Advances and Applications in Healthcare Systems,” reflects his expertise in bio-inspired algorithms and their use in improving healthcare operations. Prof. Mutingi’s research spans lean manufacturing, supply chain optimization, simulation modeling, and energy policy, making him a versatile figure in industrial engineering. He has supervised over 100 postgraduate students, including multiple PhD candidates, fostering the next generation of engineers. With three books and more than 120 scholarly articles to his name along with several international best-paper awards he has established himself as a thought leader in optimization and healthcare systems engineering.