FUTA Alumnus Ebenezer Olukanni Wins Prestigious Graduate Award in United States
An alumnus of Federal University of Technology, Akure and former technologist at the institution, Ebenezer Olukanni, has received the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction.
Philip22
An alumnus of Federal University of Technology, Akure and former technologist at the institution, Ebenezer Olukanni, has received the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction.
Olukanni, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning at Virginia Tech, earned the recognition for his research excellence and contributions to advancing construction education, artificial intelligence applications, and workforce development.
According to a statement released by the awarding institution, the FUTA alumnus, who is also a member of the university’s Smart Systems Lab, has distinguished himself through innovative research focused on immersive virtual training environments, multimodal and neurosymbolic artificial intelligence, as well as AI-driven applications in construction robotics and wildfire resilience.
The institution noted that his research works have been published in leading academic journals, while several additional studies are currently under review.
Olukanni has also contributed to multiple proposals and peer-review activities linked to the National Science Foundation, further strengthening his growing academic profile within the global research community.
In 2025, he was awarded the Myers-Lawson School of Construction Certificate of Scholarly Recognition in acknowledgement of what the institution described as his impactful and innovative scholarship.
The latest award adds to a growing list of achievements by Nigerian scholars making significant contributions within international academic and research institutions.
The Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction congratulated Olukanni on what it described as a well-deserved honour, commending his commitment to research, innovation, and academic excellence.
The recognition is also expected to further spotlight the growing impact of FUTA alumni in global science, technology, engineering, and research spaces.
