Meet the Scholars of the AAI African STEM Initiative
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is arguably the most important field driving socio-economic development across the continent, and yet according to the African Development Bank, less than four percent of African higher education students pursue STEM-related career fields. To counter this and support African students in their careers AAI, in partnership with Chevron, established the AAI African STEM Initiative, supporting African students in pursuing their education in universities across the United States.
AAI focused its 2023/2024 support for African students who were impacted by the invasion of Ukraine. When Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, roughly 10,000 African students were studying at universities across Ukraine. Many of those students, while trapped in legal limbo, were spread across Europe, facing obstacles as they sought to fulfill their educational aspirations. With most available scholarships limited to supporting students of Ukrainian descent, the Africa-America Institute saw an immediate need and opportunity to provide a path forward for African students.
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Dr. Rose Langdon
Howard University, Masters in Speech Language Pathology
University in Ukraine: Donetsk National Medical University
Country of Origin: Ghana
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George P. Komolafe
Boston University, Masters in Health Informatics
University in Ukraine: Lviv National Medical University
Country of Origin: Nigeria
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Jesse Nzan
Missouri Southern State University, First Year/Second Year in Nursing
University in Ukraine: Kharkiv National Medical University
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Kosisochukwu Onwuagba
South Louisiana Community College, First Year in Nursing
University in Ukraine: Kharkiv National Medical University
Country of Origin: Nigeria
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Obehi Angel Tony-Ativie
Southern Illinois University, First Year in Nursing
University in Ukraine: Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University (IFNMU)
Country of Origin: Nigeria
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Elmer Asibey
Oklahoma Panhandle State University, First Year in Business Administration – Computer Information Systems
University in Ukraine: Kharivi National Medical University
Country of Origin: Ghana
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Somtoochulwu Umennaihe
South Louisiana Community College, First Year in Nursing
University in Ukraine: Kharkiv National Medical University
Country of Origin: Nigeria
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Onyedikachi Kama
East Tennessee State University, Masters in Information Systems/Data Analytics
University in Ukraine: Sumy State University
Country of Origin: Nigeria
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Helen Vuku
Florida International University (Miami Florida), Masters in Maternal and Child Healthcare
University in Ukraine: Taras Schevchenko National University of Kyiv
Country of Origin: Liberia