Greatness has a way of travelling far from UNILAG Nigeria, to various parts of the world!
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is proud to celebrate one of its own, Rafiu Adekoya Badekale, who has been selected for the prestigious 2026 cohort of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Programme at Stanford University, United States of America.
Rafiu, a graduate of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and the faculty Valedictorian of his set, earned a degree in Petroleum and Gas Engineering from UNILAG. At Stanford, he will pursue a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
Widely regarded as the largest fully funded graduate fellowship in the world, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Programme is Stanford University’s flagship multidisciplinary leadership programme. The 2026 cohort comprises 87 scholars drawn from 31 countries and spanning 45 graduate degree programmes.
Rafiu’s emergence is yet another reflection of the growing global impact of University of Lagos graduates, who’s excellence continue to resonate across industries, research spaces, and leadership platforms worldwide.
Before this achievement, Rafiu contributed to Nigeria’s energy transition efforts through his work with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, where he supported national zero gas flaring goals. He also served as an AI researcher at the Hamoye Foundation, combining technology and innovation to address pressing societal needs.
Beyond academics and professional contributions, he co-founded an educational access initiative dedicated to helping students from rural Nigerian communities gain admission into tertiary institutions, further demonstrating a commitment to leadership through service.
Over the years, his journey has been marked by several distinctions, including representing Africa at the 2023 Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, alongside receiving notable scholarships such as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), NNPC/SNEPCo, and Agbami scholarships.
As Rafiu joins a global network of emerging leaders working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on behalf of the University community, celebrates this remarkable milestone and wishes Rafiu Adekoya Badekale continued success in the next phase of his journey.
