Professor Celestine Iwendi’s bibliography reads like a roadmap of current concerns in technology: cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and network efficiency. Over the past decade he has emerged as one of the most cited scientists in these areas, appearing on Stanford and Elsevier’s global database of the top 2% most-cited scientists for four consecutive years.
Among his most influential papers are “Analysis of security and energy efficiency for shortest route discovery in LEACH protocol using neural networks” and “A Metaheuristic Optimization Approach for Energy Efficiency in IoT Networks,” both recognized by Wiley as Top Cited Articles (2020–2021). His other works — from ensemble models for intrusion detection to boosted random forest algorithms for COVID-19 health prediction — demonstrate his habit of applying advanced machine learning techniques to real-world problems.
Iwendi has also contributed to new theories and models. The N-Sanitisation Framework introduces a privacy-preserving approach to unstructured medical datasets. Ensemble-based Intrusion Detection Models and the MDROGWL group key management system illustrate how AI and reinforcement learning can strengthen IoT security. Another project, DSPHR, aims to mitigate software-defined wireless sensor network attacks through dynamic port hopping routing.
Such contributions have earned him multiple grants and honors: the 2025 Herbert Simon Award at ITQM, recognition as a Highly Ranked Scholar (2024) by ScholarGPS, selection for the Qiming National Talent Programme (2023) in China, and a Fellowship of the Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria (2021).
He also plays a visible role in global research communities as Editor-in-Chief of the Wireless Sensor Network Journal & Magazine, Guest Editor for special issues on smart agriculture and AI in 6G consumer electronics, and keynote speaker at major international conferences from the UK to Indonesia.
Through these intertwined roles — researcher, editor, lecturer and collaborator — Professor Iwendi exemplifies how sustained scholarship can influence policy, technology standards and teaching materials. His books, including Security of Things: WSN Practice & Implementations (2016) and recent volumes from IGI Global and De Gruyter, are now cited in curricula on AI, cybersecurity and IoT around the world.
