President-elect, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has hailed two distinguished Nigerian lecturers in the United States, Professors Jacob K. Olupona and Dr. Mohammed Pate, for making it into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Olupona is a Professor in the field of Religious Studies while Dr. Pate is a professor of Public Health and Minister of State for Health in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The duo were among the 269 individuals recently announced as new Fellows of the much sought-after Academy.
The president-elect, in a statement released by his media aide, Tunde Rahman during the weekend, praised Olupona for his remarkable works in the field of humanity.
He said: “I congratulate the Nigerian, Harvard University Professor, Jacob Olupona, for his outstanding academic achievement.
“To have been elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a no mean achievement, which is a testament to his high academic quality and deep knowledge.
“This comes as no surprise to me. The fact that he knows his onion is easily evident in conversations with him and Prof. Olupona and I have had several intellectual encounters.
“Professor Olupona has not only done remarkably well for himself and the Ivory Tower, he has also made Nigeria and indeed Africa proud.
“His accomplishment is a testament to the great Nigerian spirit and to what is possible and achievable given the right academic environment, something which, in my agenda for Renewed Hope for Nigerians, I promised to provide and sustain during my presidency.
“I rejoice with Professor Olupona and I salute him for his invaluable contribution.”
Congratulating Dr. Mohammed Pate of Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Tinubu said his appointment is as a result of his intellectual exploits which are noticable.
“He has had a distinguished career in public service in Nigeria as Chief Executive of National Primary Health Agency and later as Minister of State for Health from where he proceeded to join the World Bank and now at Harvard University. His global reputation as a Professor of Practice in Public Health continues to bring honour and prestige to our country,” the President-elect said.
