The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Professor Olugbenga Ige, has lauded nine distinguished scholars of the institution who were recently ranked among the top two per cent of academic researchers worldwide.
The recognition comes from the prestigious 2024 Elsevier–Stanford Global Ranking of Top Scientists, reaffirming AAUA’s rising profile on the global research map.
Describing the feat as “a resounding testament to the University’s commitment to quality research and global relevance,” Professor Ige noted that the achievement would further inspire both staff and students to pursue excellence in scholarship.
“This accomplishment reinforces AAUA’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s pace-setting universities where world-class research thrives,” the VC stated.
The ranking, produced by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier, is based on rigorous metrics such as research impact, citation indices, and global scholarly contributions.
Out of more than 8.5 million active researchers assessed across 22 major fields and 176 subfields, only about 190,000 made the cut, including 233 Nigerians.
Leading the Charge
Among the honourees is Professor Sunday Olatunji, Dean of Computing, who has 129 Scopus and Web of Science-indexed publications.
He was hailed for pioneering the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve real-world challenges across science, engineering, and the humanities.
Prof. Olatunji, earlier named by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as Nigeria’s best AI researcher for 2025, boasts over 157 Google Scholar publications, 3,992 citations, an h-index of 34, and an i10-index of 93.
Other AAUA scholars who earned the recognition include:
Professor Nurudeen Oladoja (121 publications)
Professor Adeleke Ashogbon (22 publications)
Dr Taiwo Agbede (51 publications)
Dr Taoreed Owolabi (97 publications)
Dr Abayomi Oke (31 publications)
Dr Andrew Falowo (31 publications)
Dr Oluwatobi Oyeneyin (54 publications)
Dr Damilola Omoboyowa (50 publications)
Their works, widely indexed in Scopus, highlight AAUA’s expanding footprint in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scholarship.
Global Benchmark
The Stanford–Elsevier global ranking is regarded as one of the most prestigious benchmarks in academia.
It provides a comprehensive overview of both the career-long impact and recent research contributions of scientists.
With nine of its researchers making the global list, AAUA now stands firmly among Nigerian universities driving innovation, research excellence, and international visibility.
