A Nigerian scholar, Racheal Akindiose, has been awarded the SI Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship, making her the only recipient from Nigeria this year.
The award will see her pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in Biomedical Surface Science at Malmö University in Sweden.
Akindiose studied Biochemistry at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, graduating in 2023 with First-Class Honours and ranking among the top 1% of her faculty. She later joined the Passport Intervention Programme, which provided mentorship and academic support for her application.
She is one of 51 women selected from Africa and Asia for the scholarship, which supports outstanding female students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Akindiose said the award reflected “the power of resilience and determination,” thanking her family, friends and mentors for their support. She added that she hopes to contribute to biomedical innovation, particularly in developing surface modifications for medical implants and diagnostics.
