Winning this Award is a significant achievement. Can you share with us how you felt when you received the news and what it means to you?

Thank you ptc for giving me this opportunity.

On April 1st, 2025, I opened my email in my small student room where I birthed my innovation and I was dumbfounded when I received the mail, I couldn’t fathom the joy and great sense of relieve after several days of refreshing my email and spam too. The subject line screamed: ‘CONGRATULATIONS, YPI AWARD WINNER!’ I collapsed into tears. I screamed, cried, then called my mentor Engr. Ugbehe Okeoghene, Co-founder, Future Energy Leaders Network, who endorsed my nomination for the award, made sure my visa process and experience was smooth. “Oga, we did it!”, Next, I ran to my Project Supervisor, Engr. Dr. K. K. Dune, in his office on campus, we celebrated, laughed, cheered, afterward I called my family members especially, my uncle, Prof. Justin M.O. Gabriel, and my parents Mr. and Mrs. Chimezie Gabriel, it was a huge milestone achieved by all who motivated and encouraged me during the research and development process, my supportive friend too Anthony Okere. 

Receiving this award mean a lot to my professional growth and career trajectory as “ThePipelineGuy”, an innovator and an emerging young pipeline engineer. With the Support of Engr. Dr. Vincent Onuegbu Izonworu, the technical chairmen of Nigerian International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference (NIPITECs 2024) gave me a massive support during my presentation of this innovative research at the conference, it gained attention from Nigeria Industry Elites and this sprouted from there. This achievement isn’t just for me. It’s for every everyone who’s ever been told their dreams are too small. This is a testament of world-class teaching, innovative student-led research in Rivers State University
 

Could you provide an overview of your work or research focus and the potential impact it can have on the pipeline industry?

It was just an undergraduate project which was a requirement for graduation, but I wanted to solve real pain. In Nigeria, pipeline which are said to be the backbone of the energy industry faces numerous challenges from vandalism, aging infrastructure, sabotage, pipeline leaks and rupture this has resulted to economic losses to producing companies and the government, the numbers are really staggering and operators running Helter skater for solution, not only economically, both to our environment, soil contamination and degradation, this pipeline leaks due to third-party interference and mechanical failure has done more harm to the livelihood of the farmers and fishermen in the rural areas especially I the Niger Delta region. So, I built a simple but smart system: tiny sensors on pipes that send alerts to operators’ phones when leaks, pressure drops and diversion of flow to bunkering sites occurs. No fancy laboratory, just grit, Internet of Things, a microcontroller, and cloud technology. It could false alarms by 60% reduced financial losses for government and operators by 65% and secure our environment form degradation as a result of leak without immediate intervention. If deployed, it could save communities, farms… and billions for our industry.
 

What motivates and inspires you to continue pursuing a career in research and academia?

First and foremost, I carry the scars of my homeland Ogba, Rivers State, Nigeria, cassava farms blackened by oil spills, fishermen weeping over poisoned nets. My father once told me, Allison, be the voice our land never had. I am driven by the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to contribute to our understanding of the worldResearch allows me to explore unanswered questions and develop innovative solutions that can have a real impact on society. The thrill of discovery, whether through experimental work or theoretical frameworks, continually fuels my passion. Additionally, being recognized with the YPI award has reinforced my belief in the importance of advocacy for emerging professionals in our field. I feel a responsibility to give back by promoting inclusivity and diversity in STEM. Ensuring that underrepresented voices have a platform and support in academia is a cause that drives me, as I believe that diverse perspectives lead to more robust and innovative research outcomes. In summary, my commitment to a career in research and academia is fueled by a passion for knowledge, a dedication to mentorship, the joy of collaboration, a desire for inclusivity, and the potential to create positive societal impact. These elements not only inspire me but also guide my efforts as I strive to make a difference in my field and beyond. Academia isn’t about papers – it’s about people. Every leak we stop is a society saved.
 

What are the key challenges you have faced in your research journey so far, and how have you managed to overcome them?

Failures? So many! Sensors failed. Code crashed. I cried in our lab at 4pm. But my faith and stubborn hope kept me going. I’d pray, tweak one line of code… try again. I fought through several odds: no field data (oil firms locked records), swamp heating up electronics, and thieves hunting our devices. So, we engineered workarounds: 

Simulated leaks via PIPESIM, tuning Darcy-Weisbach equations to Niger Delta’s crude viscosity. 

Weatherproofed sensors in IP67 casings, powered by electricity to survive humidity and sabotage. 

A 3-month prototype trial on PVC pipelines proved 98% accuracy, zero false alarms. Surround yourself with people who believe when you doubt yourself."
 

As an emerging professional in the pipeline industry, what do you believe are the most pressing issues or trends that need to be addressed? How do you plan to contribute to their resolution?

Look at Niger Delta creeks—corroded pipes, stolen crude. My solution? As an emerging professional honored with this award, I see three urgent issues demanding our collective action:  First, rampant crude oil theft and sabotage especially in regions like my home, Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. This isn’t just economic loss ($3B/year nationally); it fuels environmental degradation. Communities drown in spills while thieves puncture pipelines in the night. My contribution: I would develop SmartPipeGuard a real-time, microcontroller-based system in industry standard detecting leaks in less than 2 minutes via pressure sensors and GSM alerts. It will cost 99% less than fiber optics, withstands swamps, and pinpoints leaks without GPS. It will be deployed across high-theft zones to turn reactive patrolling into proactive defense.  Second, aging infrastructure meeting clean energy transitions. Over 50% of global pipelines are greater than 40 years old, risking leaks while governments push hydrogen/blended fuels. Retrofitting is costly and disruptive. My contribution: I advocate for modular retrofits. 

This award isn’t just recognition—it’s a catalyst. I’ll leverage its platform to scale SmartPipeGuard globally, mentor the next-gen engineers Africa needs, and prove that innovation born in crisis can uplift both pipelines and people.
 

Beyond your technical skills and research expertise, what other qualities or attributes do you think have contributed to your success as an emerging young professional in the pipeline industry?

While technical skills built my innovation, it was three communities that built me: 

1. Rivers State University Student Community, where I learned empathy in action. 
   Organizing programs alongside the welfare director, Student Union, determination and personal development were also the key.
2. Nigerian Association of Adventist Students (NAAS), where faith met passion. 
   Sabbath mornings meant always being in the present of the alpha and omega, the one who has been seeing me through my stay on campus, I learnt faith, grace, love, and leader skills too. NAAS taught me that true service means leader skills growth and communication, not just hymns. That same grit helped me solder sensors at 2 AM after failures—because giving up wasn’t an option when real people depended on my work.
    

What lessons have you learned throughout your journey that have significantly impacted your personal and professional growth?

Your ‘small’ today births your ‘great’ tomorrow. That undergrad project I almost abandoned? Lesson? Never underestimate what’s in your hands. That ‘small’ project? It took me from Port Harcourt to Berlin because I dared to push. To every young talent: start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. God handles the rest."
 

Apart from your professional pursuits, what are some of your hobbies or interests that bring you joy and help you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Apart from my professional pursuits, I am a sportsman, I love to play table tennis game to maintain physical well-being and discipline. In addition, one of my favorite activities is going for long road walks and travelling beautiful places. Another thing I really enjoy is reading books for personal growth and never to forget research. Overall, these hobbies help me stay inspired and encouraged in both my personal and career life. They provide me with pleasure.