Olaoluwa Hallowed-Oluwadara Is Africa’s Youngest Ph.d Holder

Dr. Olaoluwa Hallowed Oluwadara

A 24-year-old Nigerian on Wednesday made history in Africa as he received a Ph.D Degree in Mathematics at the convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for the 2012/2013 academic session.

Olaoluwa Hallowed Oluwadara, whose thesis was adjudged the best in Engineering and Science, having made a cumulative grade point average of 5.0, was described as the youngest Ph.D holder in Africa.

According to the university, Oluwadara was able to finish the programme within the three years of stipulated period.

He got two first and second degrees in Mathematics (Pure Option) and Physics in 2007 and 2008 respectively, at the age of 18, from the University de Bangui, Central African Republic.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the convocation ceremony, Oluwadara said his achievement was not only a personal triumph but a triumph for mathematics as a useful subject of study in Nigeria.

How I emerged Africa’s youngest Ph.D holder at 24
24 year old Olaoluwa Oluwadara is University of Lagos youngest Ph.D graduating student, and also Nigeria’s and Africa’s. In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the Doctor of Mathematics gave a graphic report of how he achieved that feat and much more…

You achieved a rare feat as the youngest Ph.D holder in Africa. How does it feel?

It feels good and fulfilling. It is not my ultimate goal but I am honoured and humbled that my hard-work has been rewarded. I’m really grateful to God.

What do you think helped you achieve this?

I owe this success to God. Over the years, He has helped me to set incredible goals for myself and worked hard towards them with focus, discipline and consistency. Good mentoring from my parents, pastors and supervisor also helped.

During your programme, what was your daily routine like?

I woke up every day in front of my laptop. I hardly shut it down because it was a useful tool for my research. I spent time studying and researching both at home and in school. I also had time to pray in the morning and attend church services.

What was the driving force for you?

The desire to be the best has always been my driving force. I wanted to excel, to reach the goals I fixed for myself. I kept on pressing forward.

Tell us some of the ups and downs you had enroute to where you are today?

At 13, I failed my A’ levels during my first attempt for reasons other than poor performances. I say this because I had the best result in my school before the exam. It was a serious disappointment but it turned out to be very pivotal because not only did I learn how to be humble, patient, resolute and how to depend on God, I also channeled my frustration into better performances. I went on to have better scores and more outstanding successes after that setback.

What age did ‎​​​you start and finish pre-university?

In Central African Republic (C.A.R) and many francophone countries, primary school spans six years, secondary over seven and the University at Undergraduate level over three years. I started primary school at 5, secondary school at10, and reached A’ levels at 13, courtesy of four double promotions (one in primary school and three in secondary school).

Can you share with us your growing up days and the pre-university schools you attended?

I had a normal childhood. I was dearly loved by my parents and siblings. My parents really invested in my education. When they were chanced, they tutored me in Mathematics and other subjects. I attended the International Preparatory College (College Preparatoire International in French) at Primary and Secondary levels (from 1994 to 2003) and the Lycee d’Application de l’Ecole Normale Superieure (2004) for my second A’ levels.

Tell us about your family, your position in the family and what kind of family you are from?

I come from a godly family of three children. I am the last born of my parents. They are missionaries of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry to C.A.R.

You had your first and second degrees outside Nigeria. How would you rate the education system there viz-a-viz that of Nigeria?

French speaking countries are known for their solid mathematics background. However, the education system is not only about Mathematics. I think each education system has its strong points and weak points and differences are bound to be. The system in Nigeria has a lot more openings and benefits from better funding but we can do better in lifting our standards, especially at the secondary school and undergraduate level.

What were the challenges here in Nigeria that you didn’t face outside Nigeria?

Coming to Nigeria was a personal challenge for me since it was my first time staying away from my parents and adapting was always going to be a challenge. However, during my Ph.D. programme, I had challenges of having access to some relevant articles and there were no research grants to facilitate the publication of my works in open access international journals.

What did you actually study in your first and second degrees?

I studied Mathematics and Physics at undergraduate level, bagging two Bachelor degrees simultaneously in the process. I also have two Masters’ degrees in the same aforementioned subjects.

What were your cumulative points there?

The education system in C.A.R. did not operate CGPAs. We use aggregate scores often over 20 and converting to GPA is not really plausible. For example, I scored 16.36, 15.31 and 15.76 over 20 respectively in each of the years of my Bachelor Degree in Mathematics.

What had been your childhood dream?

As a child, I wanted to work at the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) of the USA. I also wanted to work for the CIA and for IBM.

Are your parent’s academics?

Even though they are missionaries, my dad studied Mechanical Engineering and my mom, Town Planning.

You are now a doctorate degree holder. What next?

I would like to work as a lecturer and a researcher. In the near future, I will go for my post-doctorate and another doctorate degree by God’s grace.

Did you envisage you will be the youngest Ph.D graduate in Africa?

Yes, I did. I was following other Ph.D candidates and their ages at graduation. There was a 26 year old doctor from University of Lagos and a 25 year old doctor from Babcock University. Thank God, I was able to beat their records.

funny pics

today in history

1995
U.S. space shuttle docks with Russian space station

On this day in 1995, the American space shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir to form the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth.

This historic moment of cooperation between former rival space programs was also the 100th human space mission in American history. At the time, Daniel Goldin, chief of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), called it the beginning of “a new era of friendship and cooperation” between the U.S. and Russia. With millions of viewers watching on television, Atlantis blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in eastern Florida on June 27, 1995.

Just after 6 a.m. on June 29, Atlantis and its seven crew members approached Mir as both crafts orbited the Earth some 245 miles above Central Asia, near the Russian-Mongolian border. When they spotted the shuttle, the three cosmonauts on Mir broadcast Russian folk songs to Atlantis to welcome them. Over the next two hours, the shuttle’s commander, Robert “Hoot” Gibson expertly maneuvered his craft towards the space station. To make the docking, Gibson had to steer the 100-ton shuttle to within three inches of Mir at a closing rate of no more than one foot every 10 seconds.

The docking went perfectly and was completed at 8 a.m., just two seconds off the targeted arrival time and using 200 pounds less fuel than had been anticipated. Combined, Atlantis and the 123-ton Mir formed the largest spacecraft ever in orbit. It was only the second time ships from two countries had linked up in space; the first was in June 1975, when an American Apollo capsule and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft briefly joined in orbit.

Once the docking was completed, Gibson and Mir’s commander, Vladimir Dezhurov, greeted each other by clasping hands in a victorious celebration of the historic moment. A formal exchange of gifts followed, with the Atlantis crew bringing chocolate, fruit and flowers and the Mir cosmonauts offering traditional Russian welcoming gifts of bread and salt. Atlantis remained docked with Mir for five days before returning to Earth, leaving two fresh Russian cosmonauts on the space station. The three veteran Mir crew members returned with the shuttle, including two Russians and Norman Thagard, a U.S. astronaut who rode a Russian rocket to the space station in mid-March 1995 and spent over 100 days in space, a U.S. endurance record. NASA’s Shuttle-Mir program continued for 11 missions and was a crucial step towards the construction of the International Space Station now in orbit.

joke of the day

During lunch at work, I ate 3 plates of beans (which I know I shouldn't). When I got home, my husband seemed excited to see me and exclaimed delightedly, "Darling I have a surprise for dinner tonight." He then blindfolded me and led me to my chair at the dinner table. I took a seat and just as he was about to remove my blindfold, the telephone rang. He made me promise not to touch the blindfold until he returned and went to answer the call. The beans I had consumed were still affecting me and the pressure was becoming unbearable, so while my husband was out of the room I seized the opportunity, shifted my weight to one leg and let one go. It was not only loud, but it smelled like a fertilizer truck running over a skunk in front of a garbage dump! I took my napkin from my lap and fanned the air around me vigorously. Then, shifting to the other leg, I ripped off three more. The stink was worse than cooked cabbage. Keeping my ears carefully tuned to the conversation in the other room, I went on releasing atomic bombs like this for another few minutes. The pleasure was indescribable! Eventually the telephone farewells signaled the end of my freedom, so I quickly fanned the air a few more times with my napkin, placed it on my lap and folded my hands back on it feeling very relieved and pleased with myself. My face must have been the picture of innocence when my husband returned, apologizing for taking so long. He asked me if I had peaked through the blindfold, and I assured him I had not. At this point, he removed the blindfold, and twelve dinner guests seated around the table, with their hands to their noses, chorused, "Happy Birthday!"

health tip of the day

 Beat the sneezes. There are more than 240 allergens, some rare and others very common. If you’re a sneezer due to pollen: close your car’s windows while driving, rather switch on the internal fan (drawing in air from the outside), and avoid being outdoors between 5am and 10 am when pollen counts are at their highest; stick to holidays in areas with low pollen counts, such as the seaside and stay away from freshly cut grass.

Burundi's President Storms Polling Unit On A Bicycle

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza came by bicycle to vote at a polling station in his hometown of Ngozi:

He stood in the queue with his supporters who came out in large numbers:

He voted surrounded by his bodyguards:

Burundi is holding parliamentary elections, which are being boycotted by the main opposition. Mr Nkurunziza will contest presidential elections next month, rejecting calls to step down.

today in history

1948
U.S. begins Berlin Airlift

On this day in 1948, U.S. and British pilots begin delivering food and supplies by airplane to Berlin after the city is isolated by a Soviet Union blockade.

When World War II ended in 1945, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation. The city of Berlin, though located within the Soviet zone of occupation, was also split into four sectors, with the Allies taking the western part of the city and the Soviets the eastern. In June 1948, Josef Stalin’s government attempted to consolidate control of the city by cutting off all land and sea routes to West Berlin in order to pressure the Allies to evacuate. As a result, beginning on June 24 the western section of Berlin and its 2 million people were deprived of food, heating fuel and other crucial supplies.

Though some in U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s administration called for a direct military response to this aggressive Soviet move, Truman worried such a response would trigger another world war. Instead, he authorized a massive airlift operation under the control of General Lucius D. Clay, the American-appointed military governor of Germany. The first planes took off from England and western Germany on June 26, loaded with food, clothing, water, medicine and fuel.

By July 15, an average of 2,500 tons of supplies was being flown into the city every day. The massive scale of the airlift made it a huge logistical challenge and at times a great risk. With planes landing at Tempelhof Airport every four minutes, round the clock, pilots were being asked to fly two or more round-trip flights every day, in World War II planes that were sometimes in need of repair.

The Soviets lifted the blockade in May 1949, having earned the scorn of the international community for subjecting innocent men, women and children to hardship and starvation. The airlift–called die Luftbrucke or “the air bridge” in German–continued until September 1949, for a total delivery of more than 1.5 million tons of supplies and a total cost of over $224 million. When it ended, the eastern section of Berlin was absorbed into Soviet East Germany, while West Berlin remained a separate territory with its own government and close ties to West Germany. The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, formed a dividing line between East and West Berlin. Its destruction in 1989 presaged the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and marked the end of an era and the reemergence of Berlin as the capital of a new, unified German nation.

joke of the day

Three men are traveling on a ship, when they are accosted by the Devil. The Devil proposes that if each man drops something into the sea and he cannot find it, he will be that man's slave. If the Devil does find it, however, he will eat that man up. The first man drops a pure, clear diamond, and immediately gets eaten. The second drops an expensive watch, trying to impress the Devil, and gets eaten. The third man fills a bottle with water and pours it into the sea yelling, "You think I'm a fool? Try finding that!"

health tip of the day

Pure water. Don’t have soft drinks or energy drinks while you're exercising. Stay properly hydrated by drinking enough water during your workout (just don't overdo things, as drinking too much water can also be dangerous).

France attack latest: - Security at highest level - Suspect Yacinne Sali & wife detained

Key Points

 One man has been killed and two others injured in a suspected Islamist attack near the city of Lyon
 Officials say one man has been arrested
 French President Francois Hollande says it was a "terrorist attack"
 The attack began with several explosions at a factory
 Security level raised in region

'Miracle' as mum and baby survive plane crash

A mother and her baby have been found alive in the Colombian jungle four days after their plane crashed - in what officials are calling a "miracle".

Nelly Murillo, 18, and her infant son Yudier Moreno were discovered on Wednesday near the site where the Cessna 303 came down on Saturday.

The pair were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the northwest of the country, but Ms Murillo has only minor injuries and burns while the boy was apparently unhurt.
"It's a miracle. It is a very wild area and it was a catastrophic accident," said Colonel Hector Carrascal, a commander of the Colombian Air Force.

He added: "His mother's spirit must have given him strength to survive."
The pilot, Captain Carlos Mario Ceballos, died in the crash and rescuers found his body in the small aircraft.

They discovered the plane's doors open and suspected that survivors may have clambered out.

A team of 14 spent several days scouring dense bushland before finding the pair.

The plane was travelling between Nuqui and Quibdo in northwest Colombia when it came down. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

One of the greatest Nigeria Fooballer

Korede belo with IGP Solomon Arase at the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Improving Police Response to Sexual issue.

health tip of the day

A for Away. This vitamin, and beta carotene, help to boost immunity against disease. It also assists in the healing process of diseases such as measles and is recommended by the WHO. Good natural sources of vitamin A are kidneys, liver, dairy products, green and yellow vegetables, pawpaw, mangoes, chilli pepper, red sorrel and red palm oil.

joke of the day

Three babies are in their mother's womb. One of them says, "I want to be an artist so everyone knows what it looks like in here." The next one says, "I want to be a swimmer because I get so much practice in here." The last baby says, "I'm going to be a hunter because if that snake comes in here and pokes me again, I'm going to chop that thing in half!"