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.

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.