The American Chemical Society, has selected Kogi State-born University of Ibadan (UI) Alumnus, Dr Ekundayo Samuel to participate in the American Chemical Society Lasting Encounters between Aspiring and Distinguished Scientists (LEADS) Conference.
L-R: Prof. Luis A. Echegoyen, the Immediate past President of American Chemical Society; and Dr Ekundayo Samuel, the LEADS award winner?
The American Chemical Society, is arguably the world largest scientific society.
L-R: Professor Angela Wilson, the incumbent President of American Chemical Society; and Dr Ekundayo Samuel, the LEADS award winner during the event at Washington D.C, USA.
Dr Samuel was among about 70 participants including four Nobel Laureates selected from a large pool of scientists across the globe.
The participants who are mix of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early career professionals, spent three days in the company of renowned industry and academic leaders, including Nobel laureates Fraser Stoddart, Jennifer Doudna, David MacMillan, and Roald Hoffmann.
Dr Samuel joined the highly esteemed chemists, scientists, professionals, and Nobel Laureates for networking, self-reflection, career exploration, mentoring, and technical discussions from July 18 to 20, 2022, in Hamilton Hotel, Washington, D.C., United States of America.
The medical doctor was selected based on his passion for the chemical sciences, commitment to using biochemistry to address larger societal challenges, and dedication to continuous personal and professional development.
During the event, his Team that presented a project plan that addresses the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 emerged as one of the best two.
All expenses and incidentals were covered for all attendees.
Dr Ekundayo Samuel is a mentee of Prof. Oyeronke A. Odunola of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Dr Samuel is the current Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association, Nigeria, a one-time University of Ibadan Scholar, and a 2017 Commonwealth Split-site Ph.D. Scholar to the University of Bath, UK.
He was recently awarded the 2020 prestigious leadership program award; Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Future Leaders Program. He is one of 30 elite Ph.D. and Postdoctoral scholars from across the world to win the award.
In addition, he is the first time scholar from any Nigerian University to be selected.
This is a great honour for Kogi State and the University of Ibadan, ‘the first and the best’ .
Also, Dr Samuel was a recipient of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Mentoring Network award that participated in the Coaching for Career Development Program from 2019 to 2020.
Again, Dr Samuel is the first student from any Nigerian university and one of two in any African University to receive this award since its inception in 2016.
This Mentoring Network program was designed to supplement the training that graduate students and postdoctoral trainees receive through their University programme.
Dr Ekundayo Samuel is the Founder and Executive Director of Dove-Haven Foundation, a cancer-focused charity organisation based in Isanlu, Kogi State.
The good people of Kogi State and Nigeria at large jointly congratulated the young erudite scholar, Dr Ekundayo Samuel, for this great feat.
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