Book of condolences - Nicholas N. Opiyo
The University understands how difficult it can be when we lose someone close to us. We have opened up this online book of condolence to bring together tributes.
If you would like to offer your condolences or pay tribute you are invited to leave a message on this page.
Nottingham Trent University regrets to announce the sudden passing of Dr. Nicholas Opiyo, at the age of 39, on October 22, 2020, following hospitalisation for COVID-19. Nicholas was a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering within the Department of Engineering. He devoted his career to renewable energy research and increasing access to electricity in rural developing communities in a sustainable manner. As an electrical engineer with a deep understanding of socioeconomic factors in developing communities, Nicholas was uniquely placed to conduct multidisciplinary research related to expanding access to renewable energy in order to achieve electricity-beyond-lighting and accelerate rural socioeconomic development.
Throughout his career, Nicholas’ work focused on addressing barriers to rural electrification. His research showed how basic solar home systems (SHS) have emerged as potential alternatives to grid electrification, enabling households to make modest investments into their power systems, and to modify those systems according to their changing economic and power demand circumstances. Furthermore, he was assessing implications for stakeholders involved in creating electrification policies for developing communities, given the potential to seed unelectrified areas with SHS to stimulate power demands for eventual grid electrification.
Nicholas completed his PhD at the University of Leeds, where his doctoral research was focused on modelling of PV (solar) microgeneration systems in a rural developing community in western Kenya. As a postdoctoral Research Fellow at Leeds, his work focused on modelling different energy storage systems for future PV-based minigrids and their integration. He pursued a Research Fellowship at the University of Southampton, as part of the Sustainability Energy Research Group (SERG), within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, carrying out research on DC minigrids for rural developing communities in Kenya and Uganda and conducting visits to minigrid sites to troubleshoot technical problems related to energy storage or other challenges.
As a Lecturer at Ulster University in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, within the Centre for Engineering and Renewable Energies, he taught undergraduate and postgraduate engineering modules, supervised Masters and PhD students, and conducted research on technical optimization and social acceptance of small and community solar systems in rural western Kenya. Most recently, Nicholas was based at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), as a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering. He was closely engaged with colleagues on curriculum development efforts, teaching responsibilities, and forming a renewable energy research group within the Department of Engineering, during his time at NTU.
Throughout his academic career, Nicholas was dedicated to mentoring and coaching students who were early in their careers and he worked to ensure that his students were well-versed in fundamental engineering principles. He taught in a manner that encouraged his students to think innovatively and to learn how to apply their engineering skills to real-world solutions, which could help tackle global challenges, such as poverty and climate change.
Nicholas was a Chartered Engineer (CEng), International Professional Engineer (IntPE), a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). During his academic career, Nicholas authored 17 journal articles, 10 conference papers, 10 conference posters, and a book titled Photovoltaic Systems Power Structures. He presented his work frequently at the European PV Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC) and other national and international conferences.
Throughout his life, Nicholas remained true to the motto of the Starehe Boys’ Center in Nairobi, Kenya, where he attended secondary school, which is “Natulenge Juu” (Let Us Aim High), and to the promotion of a just society, which is the core mission of Starehe, a Round Square school. Nicholas also demonstrated the Round Square pillars of internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service. He believed that every individual has the right to pursue a high quality education, and often mentioned that your education is something no one can ever take away from you. His humility, generosity, wit, laughter, and love of intellectual sparring will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him. Nicholas is survived by his partner, Caitlin Biedron, and his siblings, Martha, Philemon, Dina, Allan, Dan, and Maureen.
An endowment has been established in partnership with the Starehe Boys’ Center in Nicholas’ name to honor his career and his life’s work. Please contribute to the endowment through the Charities Aid Foundation.
Nick I was very shocked and saddened to learn of your passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you rest in peace.
Posted by Marinus Toman, Ulster University, 02 Dec 2020
Very sad to hear of your passing. You have indeed written your name in gold on the sands of history. You will greatly be missed.
Posted by Ugbede Umoru, 19 Nov 2020
Gone too soon Nick! It is a pity we didn't have the chance to meet, but now I know that we shall meet on that beautiful shore. My prayer is that your great work in sustainability will endure as a legacy. The Starehe work will blossom and we shall remember you. Even in your passing on you brought the Kenyan community in Nottingham, UK and Europe together in an amazing way! Sleep my Brother as you are laid to rest this weekend ... till we meet again at Jesus' feet!
Posted by Dr. Serah Akelola, 18 Nov 2020
It is really sad and shocking to hear of Nick's passing. Nick is a great man and has been always helpful to share ideas and thoughts. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends in difficult times. May you rest in peace.
Posted by Liang Sun, 18 Nov 2020
It was very sad and shocking to hear the news of passing away of my dear friend Nick.
Nick's office was next to mine, when he joined Ulster University and naturally we used to meet and greet often. I will cherish those sweet memories for ever. I pray for his soul to rest in peace and extend my sincere condolences to his family members.
Girijesh.
Posted by Girijesh Prasad, 18 Nov 2020
Very sad to hear of your passing, Nick. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you Rest In Peace.
Posted by Emmett Kerr, 17 Nov 2020
Nicholas was a lovely man. I worked as an administrator for the Energy Research Institute when he was studying his PhD in the Energy Building at Leeds. He was always smiling, easy-going, friendly. My thoughts are with his partner, the Opiyo family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. RIP Nicholas.
Posted by David Haynes, 16 Nov 2020
Nick came to Southampton after finishing his first RA post in Leeds. He interviewed well, impressed us and was offered an RA post in my Division. Over his time with us, Nick showed motivation, confidence and an ambition to be a fully fledged academic which he achieved in a record time. He work closely with the team and I on our energy for development programme in both Kenya and Uganda.
His sudden death at such a young age is very sad and is a tragic loss not only to his family and friends, but also to Kenya and the academic community.
Our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends in these difficult times.
Posted by ‘Bakr Bahaj - University of Southampton, 15 Nov 2020
May his Soul rest in peace. Such sad news, shall be missed.
Posted by V. Chodokufa, 14 Nov 2020
We mourn the passing of one of our own in the academic community. A great young life full of promise and energy to contribute to society. Condolences to Dr Opiyo’s family and friends; we have you in our thoughts and prayers. Poleni Sana. RIP Daktari.
Posted by Dr Eric Ruto, University of Lincoln, UK, 14 Nov 2020
It’s terrible to hear about your loss and I express my sincere sympathy to you and your family.
Posted by Susan Morara, 13 Nov 2020
I met Nick at Ulster University. He was a good man, and always wearing a smile. RIP.
Posted by KongFatt, 13 Nov 2020
My enduring memory of Nick is of a very intelligent, highly motivated, confident and ambitious young man. I was his lead PhD supervisor from 2014 to 2016 at the University of Leeds. He worked on better understanding the expansion of small scale renewables in developing nations, from both technical and social perspectives, and published several important articles. After leaving Leeds he was rapidly promoted to senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. It’s such a tragic loss to lose someone with such a promising future and so much to contribute. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends in difficult times, in the UK and in Kenya.
Rolf Crook
Posted by Rolf Crook (previously University of Leeds), 13 Nov 2020
I wish I had had the chance to get to know Nick better. I will always remember in the virtual department meetings, his happy and friendly manner was hard to miss. I was shocked and saddened to hear of Nick's passing and I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Posted by Katy Griggs, 12 Nov 2020
My sincere condolences to Nick's partner and family.
Posted by William Gale, University of Leeds, 12 Nov 2020
Condolences for the loss of Dr Opiyo. May he rest in peace
Posted by MK Langat, 12 Nov 2020
So sorry to hear of Nick's passing. His research was very important to the people in those rural areas where he worked. A nice man, may he rest in peace.
Posted by Shaun, Ulster, 12 Nov 2020
Nick was a true Gentleman. He was incredibly kind and devoted to his work. Always smiling. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. May he rest in peace.
Posted by Anna Harley, 12 Nov 2020
I worked with Nicholas for about a year on the same research projects and travelled with him to Kenya and Uganda in Dec 2017.
May his soul rest in peace.
Posted by Maj (University of Southampton), 12 Nov 2020
It was a sad day for us when we heard of Nick's passing. I wished we had the chance to get to know him better. My deepest condolences.
Posted by Yvonne Reinwald, 12 Nov 2020
I am sorry to hear about the loss of Nick. He was a smart and kind man. I want to express my sympathy to his family. May he rest in peace.
Posted by Karla Muñoz Esquivel, 12 Nov 2020
Really sad to hear of Nick's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.
Posted by Martin McGinnity, 12 Nov 2020
We are saddened by your sudden demise. Your contribution to the sustainability agenda was invaluable. You made a difference! Rest with the angels.
Posted by Dr Judy Muthuri, 12 Nov 2020
So so sorry to hear of Nick's passing. Nick was part of our School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems on the Magee Campus of Ulster University in Northern Ireland. He was a very pleasant kind man, full of wit. Condolences to his partner and siblings at this very difficult time.
Joan
Posted by Joan Condell, 12 Nov 2020
You are gone too soon. RIP Nick
Posted by Priyanka, 12 Nov 2020
We were so pleased to appoint Nick to NTU because of his great talent, and his vision to develop sustainable energy for rural communities. He is a big loss to the team and we will miss his enthusiasm and passion for his work. My deepest condolences to Caitlin and Nick's brothers and sisters.
Posted by Mary O'Neill, Dean Of School, 12 Nov 2020
I was very lucky to work together with Nick at Ulster University and got a chance to see what a great man he was. I will miss him and wanted to send my condolences to Nick's family.
Posted by Daniel Liu, 11 Nov 2020
My Dear Nick, I decided to write this message directly to you. I cannot believe this tragedy yet. It is like a bad dream. I have known you for a short time, but you will stay in my heart and mind for a long time. Rest in peace, my friend.
Posted by Mohsen Rahmani, 11 Nov 2020
I was so looking forward to working with Nick. It was clear that he had passion and vision for what he wanted to do at Trent. While I am saddened that the opportunity to work with Nick and to get to know him has been taken away, this pales in comparison to how this loss is being felt by his loved ones. For your loss, I am truly sorry and hope you find some solace in how Nick touched other's lives.
Posted by Dale Richards, 11 Nov 2020
I had the chance to virtually meet Nicholas several times during our induction sessions. He has an excellent track record in his field of study, but given our different areas, I never had the chance to have a technical chat with him. But from personal perspective, I found him very humble, friendly and cheerful. His presence made the meetings quite enjoyable with his sense of humor. Especially, when he was giving some funny and honest responses that you feel tempted to say, but due to professional constraints you avoid doing it.
All I can wish is calmness for his family and his partner. I hope they can cope with this loss.
Posted by Amirreza Rouhi, 11 Nov 2020
I was so deeply saddened to hear of Nick’s passing. I wish I had more time to spend with Nick and get to know him better. From the little time I interacted with him, I can say that he was a passionate teacher, friendly colleague and very likeable person. You have my deepest sympathy.
Posted by Shukri Afazov, 11 Nov 2020
I joined NTU with Nick together. We have attended several meetings together. He was so amazing. He talked to us about his teaching and research vision during our meetings. I was so impressed and touched by his enthusiasm in teaching and research and was also planning to work with him together towards some directions. I was very saddened to hear the shock news of his sudden passing. Please accept my deepest condolences. We will miss him.
Posted by Lei Xu, 11 Nov 2020
My condolences at this very difficult time. Hope Nicholas RIP!
Posted by Xuemei, 11 Nov 2020
Nick joined NTU Engineering at an exciting time, when we were in the process of expanding our work in sustainable engineering. His vision and passion for his research in the development of sustainable power technologies was an inspiration to all who had the pleasure to discuss them with him. His track record of taking transformative ideas and seeing them through to installation in communities was a rare quality. Nick and colleagues were starting to plan future development of his research ideas, and also new opportunities in teaching; opportunities that would have global impact. We will miss him.
From all in the department we send our condolences to Nick's family after such an untimely loss.
Posted by Neil Mansfield, Head of Engineering, NTU., 11 Nov 2020
We’re sharing in your sorrow with love and friendship. Please accept our deepest condolences.
Posted by Dr Saddam H. ALMUDHADY, 11 Nov 2020
Joined NTU together, my first meeting with Nick was absolutely amazing. We discussed future research prospects. He was keen to make a new research group with me. I found him very energetic and dedicated towards his work. His death came as a shock to me. I am sure he is in a better place now, free of pains and anxieties. My deepest condolences with family... Gone so soon.
Posted by Arooj Siddiqui, 11 Nov 2020