Unilorite receives Diana Award for Social Impact
By Mubarak Oladosu
A 500 level medical student of the University of Ilorin, Mubarak Jolayemi Mustapha, has been named a recipient of The Diana Award 2026, an international honour recognising young people for their sustained contributions to society through social action and humanitarian work.
The award, which was presented last Wednesday (November 4, 2026) was given with regards to his activities and research on neurosurgery, neuroscience, public health and innovation.
The Diana Award which was established in memory of Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales, recognises young people whose commitment to improving the lives of others demonstrates compassion, leadership and sustained social impact. Mustapha is recognised among young changemakers whose work is contributing to positive change in their communities.
Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the development, the medical student explained that his journey into brain health advocacy is closely connected to his ambition to become a neurosurgeon.
He added that his interest in the field became more personal following the death of someone he knew from a neurological disease, saying that the experience exposed him to the challenges associated with accessing specialist neurosurgical care, particularly in settings where the number of available specialists is limited.
He recalled that Rivers State, where the incident occurred, reportedly had only two or three neurosurgeons at the time, and the neurosurgeon needed was unavailable when the individual required care.
He added that the experience convinced him that improving neurological health requires more than the availability of specialists, which led to the founding of his mission: BRAIN Unilorin in October 2023, establishing the first Nigerian chapter of the global mission:BRAIN Foundation.
The award winning Unilorite has helped to organise educational programmes, research activities, community outreaches and the University of Ilorin World Brain Day Conference, which brought together healthcare professionals, researchers, students and other stakeholders to discuss developments and challenges in brain health.
The chapter has also established the Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellowship, providing young researchers with opportunities to develop their research skills and contribute to neuroscience scholarship. Nearly 100 fellows have participated across
One of its projects, CranioGuard, engages commercial motorcyclists, pedestrians, market women and other community members on helmet use, road safety and the prevention of traumatic brain injuries. The initiative has engaged more than 500 people across approximately 10 communities in Kwara State. The organisation is also developing educational resources in more than 20 African languages to improve access to information on traumatic brain injury.
