A. Personal Statement

I am Professor Andrew Oke-Ovie Akala of the Department of Physics, University of Lagos. My research area is space physics. I am a Fulbright scholar and an internationally recognized scientist. I was a visiting scholar to the Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, USA (2010–2011), International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy (2015, 2019), Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, Japan (2022). I have successfully supervised many master degree dissertations, and seven Ph.D. theses. I am currently guiding eight Ph.D. candidates. I am a member of many professional bodies and a reviewer for thirty journals. I am a member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Global Engagement Committee. I was the winner of 2019 Africa Award for Research Excellence in Space Science by AGU. I have over 100 peer reviewed articles and published conference proceedings to my credit. I served as the Guest Editor for Advances in Space Research, (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.05.013) (Elsevier) in 2023, and I am currently an Associate Editor for Space Weather (AGU Journal). I am a member of the University of Lagos Research and Ethics Committee. 

 

B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

● Associate Editor, Space Weather (American Geophysical Union Journal) (2023-2027). 

● Guest Editor, Advances in Space Research by Elsevier (2023)

● General Secretary, African Geophysical Society (AGS) (2016-Date)

● Member of the American Geophysical Union’s Global Engagement Committee (2022-Date).

● Member of the University of Lagos Research and Ethics Committee (2024-Date). 

● Member American Geophysical Union’s Falkenberg Award Selection Committee (2021-Date)

● Chair/Member, Organizing Committee, African Geophysical Society Annual Conference, 2021; 2023.

● Africa Award for Research Excellence in Space Science by the American Geophysical Union (2019)

 

C. Selected Most Recent Publications/Contributions to Knowledge

1. Amaechi, P.O., Messanga, H., Grodji, F.O., Akala, A., Despirak, I., Ngwira, C.M., Oyeyemi, E. and Amory‐Mazaudier C. (2025). Risk assessment of the ground magnetic response of the March and April 2023 geomagnetic storms using geomagnetically induced currents indices. Space Weather, 23, e2024SW004324. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW004324.

2. Akala, A.O., E.O. Oyeyemi, O.J. Oyedokun, J.B. Amao, O.O. Odeyemi, B. Olugbon, N. Patel (2024), Assessment of the accuracy of IRI-2016 model at the equatorial-, low-, mid-, and high-latitudes ionosphere along 30–45oE meridian lines during minimum (2009) and maximum (2013) phases of solar cycle 24, Advances in Space Research, 73(9), 4439-4452, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.01.046.

3. Anoke-Uzosike, R., A.O. Akala, E.O. Oyeyemi (2024), Sub-daily solar wind-magnetosphere energy transfer during major geomagnetic storms of solar cycle 23, Advances in Space Research, 73(8), 4314-4328, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.01.007

4. Oyeyemi, E.O., .O. Akala, D. Okoh, O.O. Odeyemi, B. Olugbon, P.O. Amaechi, O.J. Oyedokun, O.R. Idolor (2024), Responses of the Nigerian low-latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic storms of the ascending and maximum phases of solar cycle 24, Advances in Space Research, 73(8), 4296-4313, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.12.051.

5. Akala, A. O., R. O. Afolabi Y. Otsuka (2022), Responses of the African-European equatorial-, low-, mid-, and high-latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic storms of 2013, 2015 St Patrick’s Days, 1 June 2013, and 7 October 2015, Advances in Space Research, 775-789, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2022.10.029.

 

D. Collaborators/ Networks (International inclusive

i. Dr. Keith Groves, Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, USA.

ii. Professor Gopi Seemala, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai, India.

iii. Professor Yuchi Otsuka, Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, Japan.

iv. Professor Sandro Radicella, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.

v. Dr. Chigomezyo Ngwira, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA.