Elizade University has successfully concluded hosting a Carnegie fellow under the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP), joining an exclusive cohort of African universities benefitting from this prestigious initiative to strengthen academic and research capacity across the continent for the second time.

Elizade University was selected by the CADFP to host Dr. Babasola Fateye, an Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University, United States, for a project led in partnership with Dr. Olayinka Osuolale of Elizade University's Department of Biological Sciences. The fellowship supported a two-part initiative: cutting-edge research using Galleria larvae as an alternative model for scientific testing, and student co-teaching, training on environmental and diversity monitoring.

The central research focus—the use of Galleria mellonella. larvae—offers a cost-effective and ethical alternative to traditional animal models for toxicity  testing of compounds, drugs, and pathogenic microorganisms. This innovative approach is known to significantly reduce research costs while delivering reliable experimental outcomes. In addition to the research component, Dr. Fateye and Dr. Osuolale provided intensive training sessions for students on environmental monitoring techniques, promoting greater scientific literacy and practical skill development.

As part of the fellowship, Elizade University also received donated laboratory equipment from the Carnegie fellow to bolster ongoing research and teaching capacity. The donation underscores the sustainable impact of the CADFP's vision of empowering African universities with both human and material resources.

The project at Elizade University is one of 60 collaborative initiatives selected this cycle by the CADFP, which matches African diaspora scholars with universities in Africa to advance curriculum co-development, collaborative research, graduate training, and mentoring activities. Since its launch in 2013, the CADFP has facilitated nearly 650 fellowships for African-born scholars in the U.S. and Canada to undertake short-term academic projects on the continent.

At the conclusion of the program, Dr. Fateye paid a courtesy visit to the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Sunday Babatunde Adeyemo, and members of the University Management team. During the visit, he expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality, warmth, and institutional support he received during his stay.

“Elizade University provides a very safe environment,” Dr. Fateye observed. He praised the university’s serene and peaceful atmosphere, suggesting that promoting this image internationally could help transform global perceptions of Nigeria. He also commended the students for their “positive scholarly attitude,” timely execution of assignments, and genuine passion for knowledge, describing them as a testament to Elizade University’s emergence as a world-class institution.

Professor Adeyemo, in turn, thanked Dr. Fateye for choosing Elizade University as a partner for the research project and lauded the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program for enabling such meaningful academic exchanges. He reiterated the University's strong interest in expanding the partnership, inviting more researchers from the diaspora to collaborate with Elizade University on innovative research and capacity-building initiatives.

“We greatly appreciate this collaboration with the United States and wish to see it broadened in scope,” Professor Adeyemo said. “Elizade University is eager to welcome more scholars for joint research, teaching, and training programs that can enrich our academic community.”

The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, now in its tenth year, is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU). The program’s fellowships support visits lasting between 14 and 90 days, covering travel, stipends, visa costs, and health insurance to facilitate meaningful, long-term, and mutually beneficial academic partnerships between Africa and the North American diaspora.

Elizade University’s participation in this global initiative underscores its commitment to advancing research, fostering international partnerships, and developing a new generation of highly skilled graduates equipped to tackle local and global challenges.