A Nigerian academic and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Kigali in Rwanda, Professor Ogechi Adeola, has been named among the world’s top two per cent scientists in the 2025 publication of the Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking.
Punch reports that Adeola, who was recognised for her contributions in Business and Management, emerged as the only scholar from the University of Kigali among the 14 Rwandan scientists listed this year.
Announcing the recognition on Wednesday, the University of Kigali wrote on Facebook, “The University of Kigali celebrates the recognition of 14 scientists in Rwanda named among the world’s Top 2% most influential researchers in the prestigious Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking (2025 edition).
“We are especially honoured by the inclusion of Prof. Ogechi Adeola, Deputy Vice Chancellor at UoK, for her outstanding contributions in Business and Management, standing out in a list largely dominated by health and medical sciences.”
In a similar development, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission congratulated another Nigerian, Dr Ayodeji Amobonye Emmanuel, for also being listed among the global top two per cent scientists.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement on Tuesday, described Emmanuel as “a beacon of excellence and a worthy ambassador of Nigeria in the global scientific community.”
The statement partly read, “Amobonye, who specialises in Biotechnology, was listed for his outstanding contributions to scientific research and impact at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa, where he earned his PhD and served as a lecturer and researcher.
“He is currently a Research Fellow at the Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. This prestigious global list identifies researchers whose publications have” made the highest impact across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields.
“His achievement not only elevates the image of Nigeria in the diaspora but also serves as an inspiration to young scientists across the country,” NiDCOM added.
The 2025 edition of the list, developed jointly by Stanford University and Elsevier, is based on data indexed by Scopus up to the end of 2024, highlighting the world’s most-cited scientists across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields.
It covers over 100,000 researchers whose publications have made the highest impact globally.
By being included in this list, scientists receive global recognition for advancing knowledge and influencing their scientific communities.
291 researchers from Nigerian universities, alongside diaspora Nigerians, were recognised in this year’s list of over 200,000 researchers making strides across global institutions.
This marks an increase from the 233 Nigerian scholars who were similarly recognised in the list released last year.
