Michael Aku

Michael Aku is an artificial intelligence researcher at University College London (UCL), where he develops and applies advanced AI models tailored to the needs of the oil and gas industry. With over a decade of experience driving digitalization in the energy sector, he is at the forefront of integrating intelligent systems into complex industrial environments.

He is actively engaged with the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, a collaboration between UCL and Imperial College London, where his research focuses on machine learning applications for chemical and energy systems. His work bridges the gap between academic innovation and practical implementation—bringing AI to real-world challenges in oilfield operations, process optimization, and decision intelligence.

Aku was named one of the 2024 TWA Energy Influencers and received the 2023 SPE Africa Regional Award in Data Science and Engineering Analytics for his leadership in promoting AI adoption within the energy sector.

Beyond research, he mentors emerging tech entrepreneurs through organizations such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Founders Institute, supporting AI-driven innovation across Africa’s startup ecosystem.