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Chukwu turns challenges into possibilities

February 2, 2026
By Yuri Bult-Ito

In Okwuchukwu Chukwu’s world, challenges rarely stay challenges for long. In her hands, they become opportunities to learn. She approaches each one with open-mindedness, creativity, patience and perseverance.

Chukwu came to ACEP in the spring of 2025 as a graduate research assistant, eager to dive into work that felt both intellectually demanding and deeply personal. Alongside mentors Gwen Holdmann and Shivani Mathur Bhagat, she is studying the economic impacts of power outages on consumers for the .

“This topic is especially meaningful to me because I have personally experienced frequent and severe power outages growing up in my home country,” Chukwu said.

Raised in Nigeria, she saw firsthand how unreliable electricity affected households, small businesses and the rhythm of daily life. Those experiences didn’t just inconvenience her. They opened her eyes to how profoundly energy systems shape daily life and planted the seed of her future studies.

Chukwu is passionate about improving energy reliability and ensuring that energy systems truly serve the people who depend on them. Her research interest also includes energy system design intended to provide uniform services for everyone and data-informed energy policy for remote and underserved communities. Her work at ACEP allows her to blend her passion with her technical skills.

“Okwuchukwu brings a deep interest in energy issues, including those affecting underserved communities, which aligns well with ACEP’s mission,” Holdmann noted.

Chukwu’s path to ACEP includes an engineering degree and professional experience in secondary education and the banking sector. In each of these settings, she consistently turned her role into a learning opportunity.

As an undergraduate, Chukwu co-authored a , a project that reflects her ongoing interest in using technology to solve real-world sustainability and efficiency challenges.

She also completed an internship at the Electronic Development Institute in Nigeria, gaining hands-on experience with embedded systems — specialized computer systems that operate within larger electronic systems — and with circuit design.

After earning her B.S. in electronics engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chukwu joined the technology division of Guaranty Trust Bank, one of Africa’s top-tier financial institutions. There she strengthened her data-driven problem-solving skills, learned to support system reliability and collaborated closely with teammates to deliver timely solutions — abilities she finds essential in engineering environments as well.

One of her memorable experiences is teaching math to over 500 middle-school students while she was an undergrad. The experience was transformative, expanding not only her students’ skills but also her own communication abilities. Because some students spoke different dialects, she learned their local languages and even acted out math concepts to ensure understanding.

“That experience taught me how to break down complex ideas and enhance my communication style — skills that remain invaluable in both technical and team settings,” she said.

Holdmann appreciates that same thoughtful approach.

“Okwuchukwu is thoughtful, diligent and organized, and her perspectives add real depth to our team and the research we do together,” she said.

Outside of work, Chukwu enjoys creative arts, especially drawing, and continues to explore new interests.

“I enjoy learning new things and growing in different ways,” she said.

Most recently, she bought a guitar — an instrument she has yet to learn but is excited to master.

“I look forward to the day I can play it well,” she said.

In many ways, that guitar is a symbol of her belief that every challenge holds the promise of something new and that every step forward begins with curiosity.