Biafran Scientist Who Powered Aircraft With Palm Oil, Prof Felix Oragwu Is 92 Today

Professor Felix N. C. Oragwu, the nuclear physicist, who powered Biafran aircraft with palm oil and produced the Ogbunigwe is 92 years old today.

Oragwu schooled at Christ the King College, CKC, Onitsha, the Universities of Glasgow in Scotland, School of Graduate Studies, Physics Department (Research), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Physics Department (Research), University of Manchester, in England respectively.

He was a lecturer in Physics, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, in the 1960s before the Nigerian Civil War broke out between 1967-1970. During the civil war he served as the Head Research Planning / Coordinator Technological Services of the Science and Technology, S&T / RAP, Group that operated the technological aspects of the Industrial War Machine in Biafra from1967 / 1970.

At the height of the conflict, while resources were scarce, he and his team did the unthinkable, they successfully processed palm oil to power a jet airplane thereby turning a local resource into aviation fuel. The team also developed the famous Ogbunigwe aka Ojukwu Bomb. His team was also behind the brain that processed crude oil into refine petroleum, using natural resources that were obtained in the eastern region.  

After the war, the Federal Government led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon assembled Biafran scientists and technical talents to help build an industrialization project for Nigeria, following which Dr. Oragwu presented a proposal and layout for an institute, but unfortunately, Murtala Muhammed was uncomfortable with the idea. He vehemently opposed the initiative, viewing it as a move to empower former rebels, and consequently rejected the idea. 

Some reports stated that after the rejection, Murtala Muhammed together with Ibrahim Taiwo etc assembled the materials which included the blueprint that produced ogbunigwe and aviation fuel from palm oil and, poured fuel on them and set same ablaze.

Ironically, IIndonesia celebrated its first commercial flight using palm oil-blended jet fuel on October 27, 2023, something Oragwu and his team had already done more than five decades ago.

May God continue to bless and prolong the life of this great scientist - Professor Felix Oragwu