Nigeria seems to have hit gold as her citizens are getting appointments and recognition across the world. From Canada to the United Kingdom, the Nigerian stars shone across the horizon. The Nigerian spirit of commitment, hardwork and excellence was recognized when a Nigerian, Prof. Charles Egbu, was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University in the United Kingdom. The Anambra State born Professor of Built Environment made records as he will be returning to lead the university where he had previously studied and taught. According to information from the Independent Catholic News, Prof. Charles Egbu (pictured above) will resume his new role on November 1, 2020.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Egbu said “I am honoured to be joining Leeds Trinity; a university whose values and ethos around widening participation, offering a personalised approach and encouraging all students to achieve their best align with my own. The University has an impressive track record in learning, teaching and employability… I have already been impressed by the sense of community at Leeds Trinity and I am looking forward to engaging with students, colleagues and alumni as we shape the future strategy of the institution. I am also looking forward to returning to Leeds; the city in which I spent much of my early academic life.”
Prof. Egbu, who was previously Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Experience at the University of East London, has more than 25 years’ experience in higher education administration overseeing student experience, student success, student retention, quality assurance and enhancement. He had also served as the Dean, School of Built Environment and Architecture at the University of Salford. The Nigerian-born Professor had also held teaching positions at University College, London, Glasgow Caledonian University and Leeds Beckett University. As a university teacher, Prof. Egbu’s research interest spans project management, construction management and sustainable development with 12 books and 350 publications to his credit. He is described as a university faculty who has has strong interface with industry, professional bodies and policy makers.
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In a similar story, two Nigerian female Canada-based professionals have made a list of the University of Toronto’s Women in Computer Science (WiCS) five most powerful women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The selected women, according to information available on WICS LinkedIn page, made the list on the strength of their career achievements and contributions to society. Their profiles would be showcased to highlight their careers and achievements to show young women what their future in a STEM career could look like.
Photo: Dr. Adeola D. Olubamiji
Photo Credit: University of Toronto WiCS LinkedIn
On the list is Dr. Adeola D. Olubamiji. Olubamiji, who is the founder of STEMHub Foundation, holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of Saskatchewan in Canada. She is a Nigerian whose grass to grace story is capable of moving young people to break barriers and become the best version of themselves. Born in Mokola, Ibadan in Oyo State, South-western Nigeria with a humble background, Olubamiji, who was the last of five children, earned a degree in Physics with Electronics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Nigeria. She then proceeded to Finland for her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Tampere University of Technology in 2011. Dr. Adeola D. Olubamiji is the First Black person to obtain a PhD in BioMedical Engineering from the 122 year old University of Saskatchewan. She is a 2019 honouree of Influential Women in Manufacturing and L’oreal Paris Women Worth Canada. She is on the shortlist of RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, 2020.
Photo: Dr. Rita Orji
Photo Credit: University of Toronto WiCS LinkedIn
Rita Orji is also on the WICS’s list. Rita Orji is a Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Persuasive Computing Lab at Dalhousie University, Canada. She is described as incredibly intelligent with over 100 peer reviewed articles in Human-Computer Interaction which is her major research interest. She Obtained a First Class in Computer Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. She then proceeded to Middle East Technical University in Turkey for her Master’s Degree before she bagged a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
She was recognized for her impressive Curriculum Vitae. She has won several prestigious awards and funding including Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Discovery Grant, Banting Fellowship Vanier Scholarship and scholarship from both the Nigerian and Turkish Governments. Rita, who is the founder of the Education for Women and the Less Privileged Foundation, was one of the top 150 Canadian Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She features on Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch. She is on the list of the Top 80 Women and Non-Binary People in Canadian Tech. She won the ISRII Rising Star Award and Dalhousie Research Excellence Award in 2019. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of female tech leaders, promoting research excellence, equity, diversity and inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Our birds are scattered all over the sky, but once we finish building the amalgam of nests we are working on, we will go up there and catch as many as our nests can hold.
We have gone beyond government engineered Nigeria-Diasporans thing, private organisations will build a backward integration system, with a convertible and asynchronous feedback and feedforward mechanisms; this would make it possible to utilise the talents of our finest minds across the globe, for the good of this geographic enclave called Nigeria.
Congratulations to all the good Nigerians out there, keep winning.
Ypu are right. Thanks for your comments.
You are right. Thanks for your comments.
Rita Orji and Olubamiji are strong women doing amazing thinsg in the STEM space. A big congrations to them.
Rita you are one in a million,we are very proud of you , may the Almighty God continue to lift you higher and higher, Amen
Congratulations to us all. If it was an image destroying news , we all share the backlash. Now that it is good news, let us share the glory together.
Rita my dear, you have excelled in many ways, you are still excelling and you will continue to excel. God is still taking you to higher places. Hold on to Him. Keep at it.
A big big congrats to you guys.proudly Nigerian.
THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO CLAIMS NIGERIA IS THERES PROPERTY. ..WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HEAR A FULANI MAN MAKING NIGERIANS PROUD LIKE THIS…?
Stop been narrow in your thoughts and views. There are many successful Nigerians from the north as well doing great things in STEM. Do a little research and you will be amazed. I am from Eastern Nigeria if you may want to know
Oh my darling Addy what more can be thankful for? The Grace the good lord has bestowed on you will never be dimmed in Jesus name .
Many congratulations Prof. Rita
CONGRATULATIONS Prof. Rita and pals… More Grace for more exploit…
Congrats I tap into this grace
Congratulations my people. You make Nigerians proud.
Nothing will stop you from reaching the height God has destined you. Prof Rita you are a rare gem. Congratulations
I congratulate my sister Professor Rita Orji on her landmark achievements! God is with you all the way! Keep setting the pace! More laurels to come.
Heaven and Earth celebrates u Prof Rita. U are making us so proud. Keep it up and more Grace. Congratulations.
I don’t agree and will never agree your nonsense jab. Yes, I congratulate them for their personal and individuality achievement.
But when will African brains be available in Africa to foster and develop the continent?
First, they’re enslaved, thus Africa’s better brains left the shore during slavery. The were used to build and develop the West.
Soon after the abolition of slavery was indentured labour – another form of slavery in disguise this time with the Indian sub-continent.
And now what we’ve got is called “self induced slaver” in other words, “Slavery by concent”. That is the one I am in, that is the one your Prof, Charles Egbu, Dr. Adeola D. Olubamiji, Prof, Rita Orji, Dr Offiong Helen Solomon, Prrof, Ezendu Ariwa and millions of African expatriates living, working, and helping to build the West from where the ones we sold into slavery stopped.
Have you ever thought about how and when Africa will be built. Which brains will build it?
Can Africa be built by corrupt brains?
Dont you know that Africa’s brains are building the West, and the gene they pass on thru their children will remain in the West and help continue building and developing the West.
In retrospect, the continent have lost all the inteligent genes that would have helped to build and develop it.
Have you never thought that Mr Obama’s gene could probably be the best gene that could have come out of Kenya in a century. And guess what, the African continent has lost that gene to the USA forever and ever.
Nonetheless, do you know that there’re students from opposite race who would refuse to sit in the class and be taught by them.
Do you know that there are opposite race candidates who will refuse a place in the university after finding out who the lecturer is.
Do you know that there are students who’ll pretend they don’t understand what they teach just because of their accent.
Bruvs, these are what your expatriates have to deal with to live, work, build and help develop the West while their homeland rots away.
My friend, “the war has began says, Sokpleso . . . .” But Africans ain’t yet away of it. After the brain drain, only FOOLS would be left running the continent.
I hope one day all Africans who praise this self induced slavery will one day understant the injustice they’re doing to our homeland by spread tge wrong moral panic across the continent , or choose to bury their heads in Sheol.
We sbould be tired of being enslaved again but we have no choice because we don’t have a place in Africa called home.