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FUTA ALUMNA WINS AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN FELLOWSHIP


FUTA ALUMNA WINS AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN FELLOWSHIP

Olamide Crown, an alumna   who bagged her bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees from the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA and currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Jackson State University, Jackson Mississippi, and United State of America has bagged a Fellowship from the American Association of University Women AAUW. The fellowship will fund her ongoing research in cardiovascular disease. AAUW is one of the world’s oldest leading supporters of graduate women’s education. For the 2019–20 academic year, AAUW awarded more than $4 million in fellowships and grants to roughly 260 scholars, research projects and programs promoting education and equity for women and girls. Kim Churches, chief executive officer of AAUW, said, “We are honored to provide the resources they need to excel in their academic work – and to ultimately make a difference in the world.”

Crown is elated by the fellowship ,  “I’m going to be a fellow of an internationally recognized body that is known for its excellent contributions in helping females build their careers in the world and to create a change for the young ladies in my community.”, she said . Crown area of research interest is, “The Effect of the Medicinal Plant, Parinari curatellifolia (from Nigeria), on Rho Kinase Activities in Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells.” She gives reason why she is delving into cardiovascular research, “I’m very passionate about the well-being of the human race, with a strong determination to contribute positively to improving life in my immediate society and the world at large. Nigeria is blessed with numerous plants in which the efficacy has been proven ethnomedically and some scientifically.”

According to Crown in an interview published on the Jackson State University website, “her research is important because the World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting this year that out of the 29 percent death toll from non-communicable diseases, 11 percent is caused by cardiovascular diseases. AAUW will provide funding opportunities that will give her a chance to reverse those grim statistics”. Speaking about her future plan, Crown who is a lecturer in FUTA’s department of biochemistry said, “I believe with hard work and a resilient mind I will one day develop patented drugs from medicinal plants used in the management of cardiovascular-related disease.”

Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor Professor Joseph Fuwape congratulated Crown and expressed optimism that she will acquit herself creditably well and further enhance the academic excellence that FUTA is noted for in the national and global academic arena.

(NB The material for this story was sourced from an article on the website of Jackson State University titled “AAUW fellowship helps post-doctoral fellow continue her cardiovascular disease research” written by L.A Lawrence)