By Linus Aleke
Nigeria’s unwholesome image was appreciated positively, as one of its illustrious sons, was again recognized by the Canadian authorities and America’s foremost institution of higher learning, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States.
The Nigerian-born Canadian scholar, Dr Michael Ocheje, was recognized for attaining unprecedented 500 citations, and 25 publications as well as clinching the Governor General’s Gold Medal Award for the Highest Academic Standard for the 2021/2022 Academic Year, in Canada.
The Governor General’s Medal is awarded to a graduate-level student who achieves the highest academic standard.
This is even as Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives the W.E.B Du Bois Medal, Harvard’s highest honour in the field of African and African American studies at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 6, 2022.
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The W.E.B Du Bois medal had not been awarded to anyone since the beginning of the covid 19 pandemic. It is the highest honour given by Harvard in the field of African and African American studies.
Chimamanda is known for her elegant storytelling and her advocacy for gender equality. She was also a speaker at the Harvard College Class Day in 2018 and was previously a Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow between 2011 and 2012.
Other recipients of the award include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Laverne Cox, Agnes Guns, Raymond J McGuire, Deval Patrick, and Betye Saar.
Meanwhile, Dr Michael Ocheje’s family in a statement, said it’s a great moment of joy, emotion and thanksgiving to the Almighty God for His lovingkindness.
“Our son, Dr Michael Ocheje, attained over 500 citations and 25 publications. What a stellar academic achievement. Oganenigu is great on the world stage. Congratulations, Michael Ocheje, PhD,” the family said.
The 28-year-old Ocheje joined Dr Timothy Swager’s group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, United States, for a post-doctoral programme in February 2022, after successfully defending his PhD dissertation, entitled “Dynamic Interactions in Semiconducting Polymers: New Materials for Soft Electronics with Biomimetic Properties”, on February 14th, 2022, at the University of Windsor in Canada.
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At MIT, Dr Ocheje is working on CNT-based materials with spin selectivity for use in magnetosensors and spintronic devices.
While congratulating Ocheje, Prof Simon Rondeau-Gagné, wrote: “Michael successfully defended his PhD dissertation, entitled “Dynamic Interactions in Semiconducting Polymers; New Materials for Soft Electronics with Biomimetic Properties,” on February 14th to become our group’s first PhD student. The entire team is very proud of Dr Ocheje’s achievements and wishes him all the best in the next chapter of his career about to start in Dr. Timothy Swager’s group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Dr Michael’s father, Paul Ocheje who hails from Aloko-Oganenigu, Dekina local government area of Kogi State, is a professor of Law, at Windsor University, Ontario, Canada.
