Nigerian Scholar and University of Kigali Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogechi Adeola, Named Among World’s Top 2% Scientists
A distinguished Nigerian academic and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kigali (UoK), Rwanda, Professor Ogechi Adeola, has been recognised among the world’s top two per cent of scientists in the 2025 edition of the Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking.
Professor Adeola, honoured for her outstanding contributions to Business and Management research, is the only scholar from the University of Kigali and one of 14 scientists affiliated with Rwandan institutions featured in this year’s list.
Announcing the recognition on Wednesday, the University of Kigali stated via its official Facebook page:
“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 Professor 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.”
Global Recognition for Nigerian Scientists
In a related development, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) also congratulated another Nigerian scholar, Dr. Ayodeji Amobonye Emmanuel, for being featured on the same global list.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairperson, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described Dr. Emmanuel as “a beacon of excellence and a worthy ambassador of Nigeria in the global scientific community.”
The commission highlighted Dr. Emmanuel’s remarkable achievements in Biotechnology, recognising his significant research impact at the Durban University of Technology (South Africa)—where he completed his PhD and lectured—as well as his current role as a Research Fellow at the Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania.
According to NiDCOM:
“His achievement not only elevates the image of Nigeria in the diaspora but also serves as an inspiration to young scientists across the country.”
About the Stanford–Elsevier Global Top 2% Scientist List
The Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking (2025 Edition) is one of the world’s most respected measures of research influence, jointly developed by Stanford University and Elsevier.
The ranking draws on data indexed by Scopus up to the end of 2024, assessing scientists across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. It identifies researchers whose publications have achieved the highest citation impact globally, recognising over 200,000 scientists worldwide.
This year’s edition features 291 Nigerian scholars, including academics working within Nigerian universities and those in the diaspora—up from 233 Nigerians recognised in the 2024 list.
By earning a place on this prestigious list, researchers receive global acknowledgment for advancing knowledge and shaping their respective scientific fields.
A Growing Legacy of Academic Excellence
Professor Adeola’s inclusion reinforces Nigeria’s growing contribution to global scholarship and underscores Rwanda’s expanding research footprint through the University of Kigali’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and academic impact.
Her recognition in a field dominated by medical and health sciences stands as a testament to the rising influence of African scholars in diverse academic disciplines worldwide.
