Augusta Heavens Ikevuje: Pioneering sustainable energy solutions for the USA and Nigeria

Augusta Heavens Ikevuje stands out as an extraordinary talent in the fields of energy, consulting, and business development. As a Nigerian excelling in the United States, her work is revolutionizing both countries’ energy landscapes, showcasing her ability to drive significant advancements and set new benchmarks in sustainable energy and business practices.

Currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business, Ikevuje maintains a stellar GPA of 3.82/4.0, with a focus on energy, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Her coursework, including the business of hydrogen, energy transition, and business consulting, equips her with cutting-edge knowledge to navigate and lead in the evolving energy sector. Her robust technical background, grounded in a Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria, complements her business acumen.

In the summer of 2024, Ikevuje dived into detailed research on Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration exploring potential markets around existing infrastructure. Her analysis of global supply and demand dynamics for clean hydrogen and ammonia was instrumental in assessing market potential and regulatory frameworks. She developed a comprehensive “deep dive” research project, culminating in a final report and presentation. Her strategic insights and problem-solving skills were invaluable to the team, showcasing her capacity for high-impact contributions.

Previously, as a Supply Chain Intern at Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Inc. in Houston, TX, from May to August 2023, Ikevuje demonstrated her ability to implement effective capacity management and production monitoring systems. By maintaining MRP planning and scheduling parameters and interfacing with production teams, she ensured timely production and minimized interruptions, highlighting her expertise in managing complex supply chain processes.

From 2019 to 2021, Ikevuje served as a Business Executive at Mavi Energy in Nigeria. Here, she re-engineered data-gathering processes for a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation project, resulting in significant cost savings and a reduction in carbon footprints. Her strategic planning and negotiation skills secured a USD 13.5M contract during the pandemic, underscoring her adeptness in navigating complex business environments. Her leadership in deploying online monitoring projects and implementing lean processes drove operational efficiency and cost savings.

At G-Drei Group in Nigeria, where she was the Business Development Manager from 2016 to 2019, Ikevuje increased market share by 25% through innovative problem-solving and real-time reporting systems. Her strategic initiatives enhanced the company’s operational efficiency and revenue growth, demonstrating her ability to implement impactful business solutions.

Her decade-long tenure with SLB (Schlumberger) in Nigeria further exemplifies her extraordinary talent. Managing a business segment worth USD 250M in revenue with 37% profitability, she played a crucial role in the success of the Usan Deepwater project for Total. Her strategic deployment of resources led to a 63% increase in market share in 2013, earning client recognition for her cost-effective measures.

Ikevuje’s technical skills are extensive and diverse. She is proficient in advanced Microsoft Suite, Tableau, Power BI, and data analytics tools. Her certifications as a Scrum Master Agile and SAFe Product Owner-Product Manager further highlight her expertise in agile methodologies and project management. These capabilities, combined with her strategic vision, enable her to drive innovation and efficiency across various business contexts.

Her academic projects and research contributions are equally impressive. Her work on innovative electrolyzers and the business of hydrogen underscores the potential of new technologies in the energy transition. Her research on hydrogen as a future fuel explores the discovery of white hydrogen in abandoned hydrocarbon wells, presenting opportunities for reducing electricity costs and enhancing green and pink hydrogen production.

Ikevuje has also made significant contributions to academic research, with publications covering advances in rock physics for pore pressure prediction, optimizing risk management in oil and gas trading, stakeholder engagement in energy projects, and leveraging technology for improved contract management. These publications, featured in journals like the Engineering Science & Technology Journal and the International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, reflect her deep understanding of the energy sector and her commitment to advancing industry knowledge through rigorous research.

Augusta Heavens Ikevuje’s impact on both the USA and Nigeria is transformative. In the United States, her work at Kinder Morgan Energy Transition Venture (ETV) is particularly noteworthy. Her detailed research on carbon capture technologies and analysis of global supply and demand dynamics for clean hydrogen and ammonia are crucial for the USA’s energy transition goals. By developing comprehensive research projects and collaborating with industry leaders, she is contributing to the development of sustainable energy policies and technologies that can reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency.

Her ability to integrate advanced technologies such as innovative electrolyzers for hydrogen production demonstrates her forward-thinking approach to energy solutions. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the energy landscape in the USA by providing cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, thus reducing the nation’s carbon footprint. Moreover, her work on identifying and utilizing white hydrogen from abandoned hydrocarbon wells could lower electricity costs and support the production of green and pink hydrogen, which are vital for a sustainable energy future.

Ikevuje’s expertise in supply chain management and her ability to implement lean processes have already shown tangible results during her tenure at Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Inc. By improving production monitoring systems and resolving supply-demand imbalances, she has demonstrated how operational efficiency can be significantly enhanced. This is particularly relevant for the USA, where optimizing supply chains in the energy sector can lead to cost savings and increased reliability of energy supply.

In Nigeria, Ikevuje’s work has the potential to be equally transformative. Her role as a Business Executive at Mavi Energy, where she re-engineered data-gathering processes for a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation project, resulted in significant savings and reductions in carbon footprints. This experience is directly applicable to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure and reduce its environmental impact.

Nigeria, with its vast oil and gas reserves, faces unique challenges in balancing energy production with environmental sustainability. Ikevuje’s expertise in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can be a game-changer for the country. By applying her knowledge in CCUS, Nigeria can develop technologies and strategies to capture carbon emissions from its oil and gas operations, thus mitigating the environmental impact and contributing to global climate goals.

Her strategic planning and negotiation skills, demonstrated through securing a USD 13.5M contract during the pandemic, highlight her ability to navigate complex business environments and drive impactful projects. This capability is crucial for Nigeria, where securing funding and managing large-scale energy projects are essential for economic growth and energy security.

Furthermore, Ikevuje’s work in stakeholder engagement and optimizing supply chain operations using IoT devices and data analytics, as highlighted in her publications, offers valuable insights for Nigeria. These strategies can enhance transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in the country’s energy sector. By leveraging technology and innovative approaches, Nigeria can improve its energy infrastructure, reduce operational costs, and increase the reliability of energy supply to meet the growing demands of its population.

Augusta Heavens Ikevuje’s dual impact on the USA and Nigeria showcases her ability to bridge the gap between developed and developing economies, bringing cutting-edge solutions to both contexts. Her work exemplifies how expertise in energy transition, carbon capture, and sustainable practices can drive meaningful change on a global scale.

In the USA, her contributions are paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future, aligning with the country’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. In Nigeria, her innovative approaches are addressing critical challenges in the energy sector, promoting sustainability, and enhancing economic development.

Ikevuje’s ability to lead and implement complex projects, combined with her deep understanding of the energy sector’s intricacies, positions her as a key figure in the global energy transition. Her work not only drives technological advancements but also inspires a new generation of professionals dedicated to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

In summary, Augusta Heavens Ikevuje is a trailblazing Nigerian professional making significant contributions to the energy and consulting sectors in the United States. Her innovative approaches, extensive technical skills, and significant contributions to research and industry practice make her a standout figure in her field. As she continues to lead groundbreaking projects and drive advancements in energy and business consulting, Ikevuje’s impact is set to inspire and influence the next generation of professionals. She is particularly focused on acquiring and applying knowledge and expertise in energy transition, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which are critical for the future of sustainable energy.