AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian man becomes Professor at University of Alabama 5 years after earning PhD degree, celebrates success.
A brilliant Nigerian academic, Babajide Ojo, has been awarded a professorship at the University of Alabama, just five years after completing his PhD in the United States.
Babajide shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing his excitement and gratitude for the recognition of his hard work and accomplishments.
He now holds a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), United States.
Babajide began his higher education at Ekiti State University in Southwest Nigeria, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2011.
He later moved to the United States, where he pursued further studies at Oklahoma State University. There, he obtained a master’s degree in Nutrition Sciences in 2015, followed by a PhD in the same field.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Babajide plans to open his own research facility, the Jide-Ojo Lab.
He intends to recruit researchers at various levels to work on projects aimed at understanding the role of environmental exposures in the development of pediatric digestive diseases, particularly Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).
Using patient-derived organoids and animal models, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms behind these diseases and develop strategies for disease prevention and improved patient-centered management.
Babajide expressed profound gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, and supporters throughout his academic journey. He conveyed his excitement for this new chapter and his eagerness to make meaningful contributions to the field of pediatric gastroenterology.
