FUTA Lecturer Beat 27 African Countries To Emerge Winner Of International Grant

A Lecturer with the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Dr Gideon Idowu has emerged the winner of the 2021 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant for Africa, Siggy reports.

According to the organizers, Dr. Idowu won the award after his entry was adjudged the best from a pool of 292 entries from applicants from 27 African Countries to win the US$150,000 research grant.

The grant is under the aegis of the Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation.

”After a continent-wide search, with entries from 27 countries across Africa, award-winning Dr. Gideon Idowu from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, is the 3rd recipient of the annual Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant of US$150,000. The grant was awarded to Dr. Idowu on the 5th of November at an event hosted by Oppenheimer Generations at Circa Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg.

Idowu will use the grant for research work focusing on the effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants on the environment.

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Through Dr. Idowu’s research work, policymakers and communities will gain a better understanding of the effects of microplastics and chemical contaminants on people and the environment.

“The JWO Research Grant seeks to support an emerging researcher from Africa, who leads innovative research focused on the natural environment, including, but not limited to; environmental science, conservation, geology, and archaeology. The research should address a real-world, African issue of current and future importance”, the organisers said.