FUTA Alumnus Receives Prestigious Postdoc Fellowship in Canada
Meet an alumnus from FUTA who get Postdoc fellowship in Canada.
Chisom Ezeobi 
An alumnus of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Dr. Titus Olukitibi, has been honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Dick Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship.
This prestigious award aims to advance the understanding and management of HIV in Manitoba.
Dr. Olukitibi, currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MMID) at the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, expressed his gratitude. He will be working in the Molecular Retrovirology laboratory under the guidance of MMID professor and department head, Dr. Keith Fowke.
The Dr. Dick Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship, established through collaboration between the Manitoba government and Research Manitoba, supports researchers dedicated to enhancing HIV epidemiology and education within the province. It is named in honour of Dr. Dick Smith, a groundbreaking physician who led the way in both HIV/AIDS treatment and compassionate care for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Last May, Smith was posthumously awarded the 2024 Doctors Manitoba Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award.
Dr. Olukitibi's project, titled "Bridging HIV and Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs) Science and Educational Outreach in Winnipeg," aims to improve HIV prevention education, specifically targeting underserved and immigrant communities. The project will also explore the connection between solvent use and increased HIV susceptibility.
Dr. Peter Nickerson, Vice-Provost (Health Sciences) and Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, praised Dr. Olukitibi's community-focused research. "I look forward to seeing the continued positive impact of his work, particularly among youth and in underserved and immigrant communities."
Dr. Olukitibi's connection to academia extends beyond Manitoba. He is an alumnus of the Department of Microbiology at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), graduating as part of the Class of 2012 as a first class graduate. His commitment to advancing scientific knowledge underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in combating HIV and improving public health.
Olukitibi, who also completed his master's degree with distinction in FUTA, successfully completed his PhD in Virology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases from the prestigious University of Manitoba in Canada focusing on the Characterization and development of viral vaccines against influenza, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2 using a Nobel DC Targeting Strategy.
