In a commendable feat, the 2024 best-graduating student of the University of Lagos, David Akanmu, has been selected as a 2024 Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by the Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University.
The statement revealed that Akanmu is one of five Africans, the only one from an African-based tertiary institution, selected to join the 2024 cohort which is the seventh and largest cohort since the inception of the award.
It added that UNILAG is the only African university among the 60 universities from which the 2024 cohort of 90 new scholars emerged.
The statement partly read, “Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University today announced its 2024 cohort of 90 new scholars, the largest to date.
Also Read:
- 78 suspected internet fraudster arrested by EFCC in Enugu, Imo
- Three men docked for assaulting a medical doctor in Ogun
- 19-year-old pleads guilty to stealing N1.63m iron rods
- Nine LASU law graduates make list of 13 appointed as high court judges in Lagos
- Ex-First Bank chairman, Afonja dies at 82
“This seventh cohort comprises students from 30 countries who will pursue degrees in 45 graduate programmes across all seven graduate schools at Stanford.
“For the first time, the cohort includes scholars with citizenship from Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, France, and Sri Lanka.
“Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship programme spanning all seven schools at Stanford University.
“Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world.”
According to the institution, “scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.”
In his remarks, Stanford University president emeritus and the Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, John L. Hennessy, said, “With each new cohort of scholars, I am even more encouraged about the future.
“The challenges our world faces are only growing more complex, which validates the importance of our mission here.”
In a post on its official X handle on Wednesday, UNILAG noted that Akanmu is the third graduate of the institution to receive the Knight-Hennessy Scholar Award.
“Akanmu, who is the third UNILAG graduate to receive the Knight-Hennessy Scholar Award, will be pursuing a Ph.D . in Energy Science and Engineering at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
“He graduated with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 in Civil Engineering at the UNILAG Convocation Ceremonies held in January 2024,” the post read.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, on behalf of the University Senate and community, congratulated Akanmu on the laudable achievement.