Obama gives US highest research award to Akinwande, Nigerian professor

Deji Akinwande, a Nigerian professor in the US, has received America’s highest research award.

Earlier in the year, Akinwande was named by President Barack Obama, as one of the recipients of “the highest honour bestowed by the US government for science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers”.

Speaking to TheCable on Monday, Akinwande said he was awarded by Obama on May 5, 2016, at the White House, where the 105 researchers were hosted.

According to the White house, Akinwande was awarded for his “outstanding research accomplishments in nanomaterials, graphene device physics, and opto-electronics, and for dedication to the education of future scientists and engineers”.

Annoucing the winners earlier in the year, Obama said: “These early-career scientists are leading the way in our efforts to confront and understand challenges from climate change to our health and wellness.

“We congratulate these accomplished individuals and encourage them to continue to serve as an example of the incredible promise and ingenuity of the American people.”

In an interview with TheCable, Akinwande, who grew up in Opebi Allen in the Ikeja area of Lagos state, said he left Nigeria as a teenager in 1994, and his novel idea is aimed at building more energy efficient electronic chips to make mobile phones last a week or two without charging.