A 31-year-old graduate of Biochemistry at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Babajide Ojo, has received the highest honour awarded to a graduating Ph.D student at the Oklahoma State University in the United States.
The Nigerian man who had to improve his hands-on laboratory experience from EKSU standard to the standards in the US due to the huge differences, received the Honorary Marshal award which is the highest honour awarded to a student during a graduation season.
During his PhD program, Ojo also received the 2016 top five Minority Investigator award by the American Society of Nutrition, the 2017 most outstanding Ph.D. student award by the College of Human Sciences, and the 2018 excellence in mentoring undergraduates in research award also by the College of Human Sciences, in Oklahoma State University.
Recounting how he got the awards, he said:
“Each program in the university nominates one applicant for this award and the university selects only two candidates noted for their academic achievements, scholarly contributions, and service to the university and community.
“I was deeply honored with this award which meant that I got to lead my esteemed colleagues in the procession at graduation, have reserved seats for my proud family, recognized at the ceremony among other perks.”
In his dissertation, Ojo sought to identify the nutrients that benefit the human intestinal bacteria will assist in the management of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and how supplementing a western diet with whole foods may improve outcomes of diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes by modulating the intestinal bacteria and immune system.
His research and further studies were sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture who took an interest in his findings. (LIB)