Four Unilorin alumni win Sejong Science Fellowship in Korea
By Bashirat Omotosho
Four graduates of the University of Ilorin have emerged among five Nigerians selected for the prestigious National Research Foundation (NRF), Sejong Science Fellowship in the Republic of Korea, highlighting the growing global impact of the institution’s graduates in research and innovation.
The highly competitive Fellowship supports outstanding international researchers to undertake innovative research in Korea and establish long-term research collaborations, and it runs for five years.
The programme has about 160 slots available across Korea. This makes the selection of five Nigerians, four of whom are graduates of the University of Ilorin, a significant achievement for Nigeria and the University.
The five Nigerian awardees are Dr Oluwafemi Ibukunoluwa Fola, a Research Professor at Pusan National University; Dr Akintayo Akintola Ashraf and Dr Anis Rabiu, both Research Professors at Kyungpook National University; alongside Dr Muhammed and Dr Adeyemi.
Dr Akintola graduated from the Department of Zoology in 2015; Dr Rabiu finished from the Department of Agricultural Engineering in 2016; Dr Olawuyi graduated from Food Sciences Department in 2017, while Dr Adeyemi finished from the Department of Physics in 2014.
The five projects secured a combined research funding of over 2.96 billion Korean Won equivalent to N2.784 billion, reflecting the scale and significance of the research being undertaken by the fellows.
The Fellowship is designed not only to support cutting edge researches but also to strengthen international research networks and promote sustained collaboration between researchers in Korea and other countries.
The achievement has been described as a proud moment for Nigerians in Korea, with the Nigerian Students and Associates in Korea (NSA-Korea) congratulating the researchers for their accomplishment and describing their success as an inspiration to present and future generations of Nigerian researchers.
For the University of Ilorin, the success of four of the five Nigerian awardees further underscores the institution’s contributions to developing researchers whose expertise and scholarship are gaining recognition on the international stage.
