President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six Nigerian-born scientists and engineers who were recently honored by U.S. President Joe Biden with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Established in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton, PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.
The distinguished Nigerian recipients are:
- Azeez Butali: Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa.
- Ijeoma Opara: Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) at Yale School of Public Health, Yale University.
- Oluwatomi Akindele: Postdoctoral Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
- Eno Ebong: Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University.
- Oluwasanmi Koyejo: Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University.
- Abidemi Ajiboye: Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University.
President Tinubu praised these individuals for their remarkable achievements in science, technology, and engineering, noting that their accomplishments bring honor to Nigeria and serve as an inspiration to young Nigerians aspiring to excel in various fields.
The PECASE awards, announced on January 14, 2025, recognize early-career professionals who have demonstrated exceptional potential for leadership in science and engineering. This year’s awardees are affiliated with or funded by 14 participating U.S. government agencies.
President Tinubu’s acknowledgment of these distinguished Nigerians underscores the significant contributions of the Nigerian diaspora to global scientific and technological advancements.
