A Nigerian Engineer Tired of Importing Solutions
Engr. George Essen is a Nigerian inventor, engineer, and public servant whose life’s work is driven by a deep conviction that Africa’s most transformative innovations must be built from within. Raised in southern Nigeria and rooted in a family of innovators from Essene, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Engr. George Essen developed an early passion for solving practical human problems through technology. He studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bells University of Technology, where his technical foundation was shaped by both theory and hands-on problem solving. Alongside his engineering journey, he served Nigeria with distinction in the Nigerian Customs Service for over a decade, retiring at the rank of Assistant Comptroller of Customs (Rtd). His years in public service exposed him to systemic challenges across society—experiences that later became fuel for his inventive pursuits.
Shortly before retiring from service, George Essen formally earned professional recognition as a COREN-certified engineer (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria), solidifying his transition from public service into full-scale innovation and engineering leadership. As an inventor, he holds two patent rights, Mobile Pedestrian Shade and Cashier Envelope, with additional conceptual and functional innovations such as the Auto Flagpole Device, all aimed at addressing everyday human and infrastructural challenges. His work reflects a strong philosophy: innovation must be practical, affordable, and socially impactful. In 2007, his ingenuity gained national and international recognition when he emerged 1st Prize Winner at the Best Nigerian Inventor/Innovator Award Competition, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja. Today, Engr. Engr. George Essen stands as a symbol of homegrown innovation—an engineer, inventor, and visionary who believes that Nigeria’s greatest solutions will be created by Nigerians, for Nigerians, and for the world.