Yemi Olakitan
In a remarkable achievement, six Nigerian scientists and engineers have been recognized by President Joe Biden with the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated these trailblazers, praising their outstanding contributions to science, technology, and engineering.
The awardees, announced on January 14, 2025, are employed or funded by 14 participating US government agencies. They include: Azeez Butali Gilbert Lilly, Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Iowa, Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health at Yale University.
Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Eno Ebong Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University,Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University.
Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended these trailblazing Nigerians for their remarkable achievements in science, technology, and engineering.He noted that recognising these exceptional talents underscores Nigerians’ vast potential to excel both at home and on the global stage.
President Tinubu commended these exceptional individuals, noting that their recognition underscores Nigerians’ vast potential to excel globally. He expressed his enthusiasm for the awardees to share their expertise and contribute to Nigeria’s development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The PECASE award, established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honor bestowed by the US government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.