Researchers tip African students to lead in Nobel Prize exploits
If African students studying in the United States continue with their current academic feats, the prestigious Nobel Prize may not elude the continent for long, history researchers have predicted.

The researchers who made the submission during the Inter-Departmental Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration in conjunction with the Department of History and International Studies, Babcock University, Ogun State, recently stated that the academic performance of some African students in the States’ leading universities have become very encouraging.

Delivering the lecture titled: African Immigrants in the United States, Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair Professor in the Humanities, and University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas, Prof. Toyin Falola, explained that a high number of African Students in the US now boast of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in notable fields of human endeavors.

He added that the most highly educated immigrants in the US were from Africa just as he was quick to add that there is no correlation between education and career status of African immigrants living the U.S., as most educated ones still resort to menial jobs to survive.
Since the advent of Nobel Prize in 1895, the award has recorded insignificant number of laureates with African origin.

Falola said: “We now have a substantial number of Africans who now live in the U.S. I do not want to talk about Europe, China and India. In studying them through qualitative data method, research has been limited because our options are also very limited. First, we rely on limited sources of data provided by the U.S. Federal Government.
“Second, we collect data from specific places like the universities. That data itself is generating politics. For instance, if we are to say how many blacks are in Harvard, Texas or Emory universities, you will be surprised that most of those regarded, as blacks are actually Africans. And it is creating its problems because the very best of pull of students in these campuses are Africans. That give direction that they will win Nobel Prize in the next 25 years. Nothing can stop them anymore because they are in the system and they are going into research,” he stated.

The author of over 120 books has bagged 29 career awards globally. His research interest is in African History since the 19th Century and his geographic areas of interest include Africa, Latin America and the United States.

His thematic fields include Atlantic history, Diaspora and migration, empire and globalisation, intellectual history, international relations, religion and culture.

The world-renowned historian regretted that Nigerians were mainly being recognised for fraudulent practices in America in spite of contributions being made by Nigerians to global development.

Falola averred that some of the frauds committed in the U.S. by black immigrants were not committed by Nigerians, but other African and Asian immigrants who often perpetuate such crimes under identity theft.

The Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Letters, therefore, called on the Nigerian government to re-brand the nation’s image, so that Nigerians would no longer be associated with fraud, but with intellectualism and honesty.

Head of Department of Babcock University History Department, Dr Abiodun Adesegun, described the lecture as timeless, called for multi-dimensional approach to solving mankind’s problems, noting that those in the academia should not shy away from such responsibilities.