Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Wigwe University, where he leads the institution’s mission to build a world-class, innovation-driven university that blends academic distinction with deep industry relevance. Under his visionary leadership, Wigwe University is charting an ambitious path anchored in research excellence, entrepreneurship, and societal transformation—preparing a new generation of fearless leaders, global citizens, and ethical innovators for the digital era.

A distinguished higher-education leader, Professor Al-Akaidi has held senior academic and executive positions across the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Africa. Throughout his career, he has championed strategic initiatives in research capacity building, doctoral education, and university–industry collaboration. His leadership philosophy is rooted in excellence through partnership, interdisciplinary scholarship, and evidence-based outcomes that align with national aspirations and global development priorities.

An internationally recognized authority in computer science and engineering, Professor Al-Akaidi’s research spans wireless and mobile communications, signal and audio processing, and emerging Internet of Things (IoT) architectures. He has authored and co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, with significant citations across global research platforms. His contributions to the fields of speech and audio processing, error-resilient video transmission, and low-power IoT systems have advanced both the theoretical foundations and real-world applications of digital communications.

Professor Al-Akaidi is a co-founder of EUROSIS (the European Multidisciplinary Society for Modelling and Simulation Technology) and has served for over 20 years as General Chair of the Middle Eastern Simulation and Modelling (MESM) Conference. He has edited the proceedings of over 40 international conferences and currently serves as Chief Editor of seven international journals. A dedicated academic mentor, he has supervised 45 PhD/MPhil researchers and more than 100 MSc students—many of whom now occupy influential academic, governmental, and industry roles around the world.

In addition to his academic achievements, Professor Al-Akaidi maintains strong industry affiliations with leading global companies such as Nokia, Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Orange Communications, and Toyota. These partnerships bring valuable practical insight to academic programs and enable impactful translational research. A pioneer in blended, online, and e-learning across the MENA region, he was among the first to introduce Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to the Middle East, integrating emerging technologies and real-world problem-solving into modern pedagogy.

Professor Al-Akaidi is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), and a Fellow of several professional organizations, including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), the British Computer Society (FBCS), and the Institute of Analysts and Programmers (FIAP). He holds BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from the highly ranked Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

A sought-after keynote speaker, editor, and research collaborator, Professor Al-Akaidi’s current work focuses on digital health, smart energy systems, and connected technologies—advancing research that bridges scientific discovery with meaningful societal impact. Through his leadership, Wigwe University continues to expand its research footprint and forge high-value alliances with global technology firms, research institutions, and public-sector partners. He is committed to positioning Wigwe University as a beacon of excellence, innovation, and opportunity across Africa and beyond.