By Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria, Northeast)
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has congratulated Prof. Mahmoud Bukar Maina on winning the Vivensa Academy Rising Star Excellence Award in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Maina is the Director of the Yobe State Biomedical Research and Training Centre and founder of the Biomedical Research and Training Centre at Yobe State University.
The Vivensa Academy Rising Star Excellence Award is presented to research leaders advancing work to improve health and wellbeing, particularly in ageing and related conditions such as dementia.
He received the award for his achievements in research on dementia and ageing, and for building research systems that connect communities with healthcare and scientific innovation.
Prof. Maina is the first Black recipient of the award.
Prof Maina receiving the Vivensa Academy Awards in UK
The recognition follows other recent honors, including the 2025 Transmitter Rising Star Award supported by the Simons Foundation (USA) for emerging leaders in neuroscience.
He was also selected into the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Global Investigator Network, becoming the first Nigerian and second African in the group.
Governor Buni said Prof. Maina’s work in scientific research is placing Yobe State on the global map of science and research.
“Prof. Maina is doing us proud and placing Yobe State on the global map of science and research,” Buni said.
The Governor assured that the Yobe State Government will continue to support him and other indigenes to achieve their potential in their respective fields.
The statement was signed by Mamman Mohammed, Director General, Press and Media Affairs to the Governor.
