FUTA Scholars Shine as 40 Citations Make World’s Top 2% Scientists List

Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has once again demonstrated its standing as a leading research institution of global significance, as 40 of its faculty members and alumni have been cited among the world’s top 2% scientists in the 2024 ranking released by Elsevier/Stanford University on September 16. This prestigious recognition, which underscores FUTA's contributions to scientific innovation and research, highlights the influential work of these scholars across various fields.

In the career-long impact category, ten FUTA-affiliated scientists were honored for their sustained contributions to scientific research. These include Prof. Ganiyu Oboh, Dr. Kolade Owolabi, Dr. Isaac Animasaun, Prof. Kenneth Alaneme, Prof. Esther Akinlabi, Prof. Oyedapo Fagbenro, Dr. Adeniyi Adefegha, Prof. Peter Olubambi, late Prof. Valentine Aletor, and Prof. Ayodele Temitope. Their research interests range from applied biochemistry, functional foods, and fluid mechanics to aquaculture, energy management, and metallurgy.

In addition, another 30 FUTA scholars were recognized in the single-year impact category, which evaluates the influence of their research in a recent year. This diverse group of scientists has made significant contributions in areas such as numerical analysis, environmental chemistry, machine learning, sustainable construction, and biomedical engineering.

The recognition covers various disciplines, reflecting the far-reaching impact of FUTA's research on human needs. The scholars' expertise extends to functional foods, computational fluid dynamics, aquaculture, mechanical behavior of materials, and other critical scientific fields.

Reacting to the achievement, Vice Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji expressed pride in the institution's scholars for their global recognition. She noted that their inclusion in the list enhances FUTA's prestige, encouraging collaboration and attracting more esteemed researchers to the university. Professor Oladiji congratulated the scholars and urged them to continue advancing knowledge in line with FUTA's motto, "Technology for Self-Reliance."

The Elsevier/Stanford University Top 2% Scientists list annually identifies the most impactful scientists worldwide. It is based on Scopus data, analyzing citation metrics across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. Researchers are evaluated based on citations, h-index, and co-authorship metrics, with rankings reflecting career-long and single-year impact. The 2024 list, the seventh edition, incorporates data from August 1, 2024, updated to the end of the 2023 citation year.