Oluwadamilare Dauda, a final-year PhD scholar at the Osun State University, has received the 2025 National Veterinary School Of Toulouse Young Scientist award for his groundbreaking research on blackfly transmission of river blindness.
The announcement was made on the official social media (X) handle of the French Embassy in Nigeria, which described the award as a prestigious honour bestowed on promising researchers from low- and middle-income countries in the field of entomology, the scientific study of insects.
The embassy noted that the award afforded Mr. Oluwadamilare Dauda the opportunity to participate in a summer course in Toulouse, where he engaged with international researchers and deepened his expertise in disease vectors, especially in relation to neglected tropical diseases like onchocerciasis.
The Embassy also commended his contributions to global public health efforts and confirmed that it facilitated his visa process as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting academic exchange and scientific excellence between France and Nigeria.
In his reaction, the award-winning scholar stated:
“Sincere thanks to the French Embassy in Nigeria for spotlighting Nigerian academic excellence on the global stage, I am also grateful to the summer school organizer, for this incredible opportunity and Osun State University for giving me a platform to excel.”
Speaking on the development, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, congratulated Mr. Dauda on his outstanding international achievement and described it as a reflection of the university’s growing global visibility and research relevance.
According to Professor Odunayo:
“At UNIOSUN, we are committed to producing graduates and researchers who are globally competitive and locally impactful. Oluwadamilare’s award affirms the quality of academic training we provide and the excellence we nurture.”
