At 70, Prof. Bart Nnaji has little left to prove. Globally celebrated as a robotic engineer, artificial intelligence pioneer and Chairman of Geometric Power Group, he has spent decades pushing the frontiers of science, engineering and Nigeria’s power sector. Yet, behind the remarkable achievements and boardroom accomplishments is a man who treasures life’s simple pleasures. Despite his international acclaim, Nnaji says his greatest moments of relaxation are spent in his village, where he reconnects with friends, shares stories and enjoys the warmth of community life. In this interview, he reflects on what sparked his early fascination with artificial intelligence over four decades ago, the sacrifices success has demanded, his vision for technology and electricity in Nigeria, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpt:
Let us talk about you at 70. How does it feel like to be 70?
I did not think that I would live past 60 when I went to America as a teenager. I was telling a friend that I expected to die at about 60 because I thought that 60 was too old. I could not imagine people being 60 and still wanting to be around. So, when I turned 60, I was laughing at myself and said “look at you, you have not started.” So, I went past 60 and here I am at 70. Now, I no longer look at life that way. I have a company (Geometric Power) that is just getting to work the way it is supposed to work. So, 70 is just a number or something like that. As long as my brain is still working and I am still able to move around, which God has been very kind, I must continue to work on that project with those who are associated with the project and me. But gas is the main problem. If we have gas, we have reliable electricity. No gas, no reliable electricity. Just a simple arithmetic. Not even arithmetic but simple intuitive fact.
