United States President Joe Biden has honoured 400 scientists and engineers with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest recognition bestowed by the US government for outstanding contributions to science and engineering.

Among the awardees were six Nigerians who are: Azeez Butali, a Gilbert Lilly-endowed professor at the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry; Ijeoma Opara, an associate professor of public health at Yale School of Public Health; Oluwatomi Akindele, a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Eno Ebong, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Northeastern University; Oluwasanmi Koyejo, an assistant professor of computer science at Stanford University; Abidemi Ajiboye, the executive vice chair of the biomedical engineering department at Case Western Reserve University.

President Biden presented the awards on Tuesday, recognising their leadership potential and contributions to innovative advancements in science and technology.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement by his special adviser, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated the honorees, praising their achievements as proof of Nigerian talent excelling globally. Tinubu expressed hope that their expertise would contribute to Nigeria’s development.
The PECASE award, established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, highlights scientists and engineers demonstrating exceptional potential in their fields early in their careers. This year’s recipients are affiliated with or funded by 14 US government agencies.