By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Nigerian University Lecturer, Mustapha Manga has done Nigeria proud by emerging winner of a £5000 research award by Newcastle University London.
This was disclosed by the Awardee in a telephone interview with Newsmen in Bauchi at the weekend.
Manga, who is currently doing his PhD at the London University, is a lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU).
According to him, the award has made Nigerians residing in the U.K proud, saying that , apart from the 5,000 pounds cash prize, there would be paid travel and accommodation in London for the Demo day presentation.
Manga said that the 2022 prestigious conception X award had been the most competitive with over 150 applications from all over U.K universities.
“The applicants typically go through four rounds of selection based on their innovation, practicality, relevance and impact to solving global issues.
“The conception X panel of juries recommended my ideas and solutions and deserved a scalable support.
“My innovative stride was recognised by the Newcastle University, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.
“The depth of my thoughts have earned me the award for rethinking smart cities through synchronization and embeddedness of docking station technologies to enable inclusive learning,’’ he said.
Manga further said he was leveraging the resources available through hard work, prayer and determination to break the barriers of expectations in the U.K.
“It is unbelievably awesome. I still feel emotional when I think about it. It is one of the best things that has ever happened to me since the beginning of this PhD voyage.
“It’s wonderful to receive not just recognition, but public recognition for something you have done being displayed on the walls and posters of such a beautiful institution like Newcastle University,” he said.
The don stressed that Nigerians are all over the world, across different ivory towers and have been known for making the country proud.
“Academic excellence and recognition are becoming a hallmark of Nigerians far outside the shore of the country’’, he added.