One of MOUAU's scientists, Dr. Uchechi N. Ekwenye has been awarded the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and UNESCO Leadership Grant for International Educators as well as a Train-the-Trainer scholarship.

Dr. Ekwenye, a specialist in microbial biotechnology and Head of Department of Microbiology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, is one of the two Africans to win this globally and extremely competitive Grant.

MOUAU UPDATE checks at the ASM website show that the Grant/Scholarship awarded Dr. Ekwenye and others will provide them with the resources to build innovative teaching modules that engage students and lead to enduring understanding in Microbiology.

Asked what the University stands to gain from the Grant/scholarship, Dr. Ekwenye said, 'what I have gained from ASM has helped me tremendously in teaching microbiology in MOUAU. My students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels are benefitting immensely from what I am tapping from internationally reputable scholars and journals which I assess free of cost. I owe my gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ikenna Onyido and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. E.N.T. Akobundu, who have given me all the support I have always asked for'.

It was gathered that already, no fewer than 30 students of microbiology in MOUAU are participating in Dr. Ekwenye's Training Programme in which she hopes to replicate herself and assist the University in its human capacity development.

Dr. Ekwenye, a well-travelled scientist and researcher, has won many national and international awards and grants, including the International Union of Microbiology Societies (IUMS) Merit Award 2005 and award of conference grant by African Network of Scientists and Technological Institution (ANSTI), UNESCO, Nairobi, Kenya, among others.

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