Makuochi Samuel Nkwo

Dr Makuochi Samuel Nkwo BSc(Hons), MSc, PgCert-Education, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Computer Science

Makuochi S. Nkwo is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computing and Mathematical Science, Greenwich University, London, UK. He has over a decade experience in teaching and research in the UK and Africa. His current research focuses on the application of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) in Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI), Large Language Models (LLMs), Computing Education, and other emerging technologies. He is profoundly committed to investigating how AI-enabled systems align with human values, promote digital health and wellbeing, and contribute to equitable, safe and sustainable societal outcomes.

Before joining Greenwich, Dr Nkwo held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at University of Namibia, Windhoek (2022–2023) where led a Google-funded project “RHAI-AFRICA”, which was recognised as one of the 19 Excellent AI Research Projects Worldwide in IRCAI UNESCO 2022 Global Report. He also served in several key leadership roles at previous institutions, including Departmental Examination Officer.

In the professional community, he has made significant service contributions- serving as Guest Editor, Special Issue in COMPUTERS titled “Innovative Research in HCI”, Co-Chair: Publication, Technical Programme, Full Papers, and Workshop @AfriCHI conferences 2027/2025/2023/2021. He is a Fellow of the HE Academy (FHEA), Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS), British Academy Early Career Research Network (BA-ECRN), among others.

Dr Nkwo is an external examiner to UK and overseas universities and was recently appointed to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Peer Review College. He co-founded the Responsible AI across Borders (RAIxB) network and likes consulting for corporate institutions and government agencies.

Computer science and computing Computer science

Responsibilities within the university
  • Lecturing: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience Design (UX), Strategic IT, Ethics and Governance of AI/Data Science, Research Project Management, Software Engineering, and other undergraduate and postgraduate computing courses
  • Research: Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI), Digital Ethics and Governance, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Computing Education.
  • Project Supervision: Research project supervisor to Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral students.
  • Link Tutor to the University of Greenwich’s TNE partners - NACIT, Blantyre and Lilongwe, Malawi.
  • Personal Tutoring and Pastoral Supports to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

Awards
  • ECA Pilot Project Fund - Issued by University of Greenwich, London · May 2024
  • Flexi-Grant Award for the UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme, The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK, July 2023.
  • One of the 19 Excellent AI Research Projects by IRCAI UNESCO Global Top 100 2022 Report for Responsible Human-Centred AI in Africa (RHAI-AFRICA). I led this project as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Google Funded Fellowship) at the University of Namibia. 2022 - 2023.
  • Best Poster Award, Persuasive Technology Conference, (Persuasive 2020), April 20 – 23, 2020, Alborg, Denmark.
  • One of the 20 Best Doctoral Research Proposals at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) 2019, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Recognition
  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) from Advance HE, London, UK.
  • Member, the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Peer Review College
  • Member, British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA-ECRN)
  • Member, the British Computer Society (MBCS)
  • Member of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • Gold Mentor, Advance HEA, University of Greenwich, London, UK.
  • Royal Academy of Engineering-Endorsed UK Global Talent.

Research / Scholarly interests
  • Human-Computer Interaction and UI/UX Design,
  • Persuasive Technologies and User Behaviour Modelling.
  • Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI), Generative AI (Gen-AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs).
  • Ethics and Governance AI/Data Science
  • Digital technologies for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including Education & Public Services, Health & Wellness, Ecommerce & Workplace, and Environmental Sustainability

Recent publications

Article

Eke, Damian , Nkwo, Makuochi, Jaja, Ibifuro Robert, Adamu, Muhammad , Akintoye, Simisola , Ugom, Michael , Kiden, Sarah (2026), Whose responsibility? Deconstructing global responsible AI from the African lens: a review. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, AI and Ethics, 6 (579) 2730-5961 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-026-01418-3).

Nkwo, Makuochi S. , Adamu, Muhammad, Brako, Francis, Okolo, Chinasa T. , Orji, Rita (2026), Challenges, paradoxes and lessons for inclusive AI governance: an interdisciplinary analysis of corporate initiatives. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, AI and Ethics, 6: 503 2730-5961 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-026-01361-3).

Nwokeji, Joshua , Nkwo, Makuochi S., Ikwunne, Tochukwu, Yeerbo, Meiyeer (2026), UX experts vs. AI: exploring the performance of large language models and humans on detecting dark patterns. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, AI and Ethics, 6: 288 2730-5961 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-026-01151-x).

Brako, Francis and , Nkwo, Makuochi S. (2024), Leveraging artificial intelligence for better translation of fibre-based pharmaceutical systems into real-world benefits. Taylor and Francis Group - Taylor and Francis. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Group - Taylor and Francis, Pharmaceutical Development and Technology . pp. 1-12 ISSN: 1083-7450 (Print), 1097-9867 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10837450.2024.2395422).

Adamu, Muhammad and , Nkwo, Makuochi (2023), AI in Africa. Preliminary notes on design and adoption. Bologna University Press. In: , , , . Bologna University Press, diid disegno industriale industrial design (80) . pp. 44-57 ISSN: 1594-8528 (Print), 2785-2245 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.30682/diid8023d).

Conference item

Nkwo, Makuochi S. and , Adamu, Muhammad (2025), Responsible Artificial Intelligence across Borders (RAIxB): a community dialogue. In: UK AI Research Symposium (UKAIRS 2025), 8th - 9th September, 2025, Northumbria University, Newcastle , . , (doi: https://aibio.ac.uk/events/ukairs-2025/) NB Item availability restricted.

Nkwo, Makuochi and , Adamu, Muhammad S. (2024), AI “Ethics Shopping” and “Governance Shrinking” in Africa: a critical opinion. In: Global Forum on the Ethics of AI 2024, 05-06 Feb 2024, Kranj, Slovenia , . , Second edition of the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2024), Brdo Slovenia. (doi: ).

Conference proceedings

Nwokeji, Joshua C. , Ikwunne, Tochukwu A., Nkwo, Makuochi S., Yeerbo, Meiyeer (2026), Evaluating prompt engineering techniques for image-based classification of dark patterns with GPT-5. Springer Nature. In: , , In: Helmut Degen, Stavroula Ntoa (eds.), Artificial Intelligence in HCI. 7th International Conference AI-HCI 2026 Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference HCII 2026. Montreal, QC ,Canada, July 26-31, 2026. Proceedings Part III. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland , 16745 . pp. 507-526 . ISBN: 9783032308481 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-30849-8_30) NB Item availability restricted.

Adamu, Muhammad Sadi and , Nkwo, Makuochi Samuel (2024), “Remembering” as a decolonial praxis in African HCI and design. ACM. In: , , , AfriCHI '23: Proceedings of the 4th African Human Computer Interaction Conference. ACM, New York, USA . pp. 118-124 . ISBN: 9798400708879 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3628096.3629045).

Nkwo, Makuochi , Adamu, Muhammad, Mthoko, Hafeni, Kawu, Abdullahi Abubakar , Lazem, Shaimaa , Peters, Anicia (2023), Baraza II: expanding African HCI communities and curriculum. ACM. In: 4th African Human Computer Interaction Conference (AfriCHI 2023), November 27–December 01, 2023, East London, South Africa , AfriCHI '23: Proceedings of the 4th African Human Computer Interaction Conference. ACM, New York, USA . pp. 291-294 . ISBN: 9798400708879 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3628096.3629073).

Arueyingho, Oritsetimeyin , Bidwell, Nicola J, Peters, Anicia, O’Neill, Jacki , Metatla, Oussama , Ayobi, Amid , Nkwo, Makuochi Samuel , Lawrence, Damiete Onyema , Zimba, Rockefeller , Ismaila, Hadiza (2023), Afrocentric collaborative care: supporting context specific digital health and care. ACM. In: , , , CSCW '23 Companion: Companion Publication of the 2023 Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. ACM, New York, USA . pp. 537-541 . ISBN: 9798400701290 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3584931.3611287).

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