Nigerian Chevening alumna wins UK research awards

A Nigerian Chevening alumna, Deborah Adeniran, has won two international awards for her work in cancer education and research at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Both awards were held on April 21 and 23, 2026, to recognise her contributions in cancer awareness and other community works.

Adeniran was presented with the World Changing Alumni Award 2025 by the University of Glasgow in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to public health since completing her postgraduate studies.

She clinched the second honour, the U21 Leader of the Future Award 2026, from Universitas 21, a global network of research-intensive universities, identifying her as one of the most promising emerging leaders in the world.

Adeniran, who spoke to Diaspora Tales on Thursday, added that she had touched many lives through her relentless dedication to cancer advocacy.

“These awards are not just mine. They belong to every Nigerian woman who has been told her health does not matter, and to every advocate who refuses to stop fighting,” she said.

Adeniran is the Programmes and Partnerships Manager at the International Cancer Research Abuja and Founder of CancerAid_Africa.

As a Chevening scholar for the 2023–2024 cohort, she earned a master’s degree in Cancer Research and Precision Oncology at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

Biodun Busari is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on human interest, crime, diaspora issues, and feature storytelling. He focuses on producing engaging, informative stories that enlighten the public and provide context on complex topics. Biodun’s work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accurate, purpose-driven journalism.

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