The Canadian government has announced the 2019 Vanier Scholarships awarded to graduate students who demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement. Valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies, the 2019 Vanier Graduate Scholarship is Canada’s most prestigious academic award. Of the 166 scholarships awarded this year, Effoduh Okechukwu Jake, was named alongside three other Nigerians as Vanier Scholars.  He will receive support from the Government of Canada to pursue his cutting-edge research. Candidates are weighted on three criteria: academic excellence, research potential and leadership.

According to Canada’s Minister of Science and Sport, Honourable Kirsty Duncan, who announced the results in Kingston, Ontario, “The Vanier awards help Canada attract and retain some of the brightest doctoral students to build up our world-class research talent.  Since taking office, our government has been working hard to return science and research to their rightful place and today’s investments are helping us do just that.” The Minister of Health, Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor added: “it is a great pleasure for me to congratulate the recipients of these prestigious awards.  Thanks to their drive, these young researchers are helping to solve important challenges.”

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are funded through the three federal research granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). A complete list of 2019 scholars is available at http://www.vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html