The Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences has announced the recipients of its 2026 PhD Thesis Prize, recognizing outstanding research in key areas of the physical sciences. According to Dr. Babatunde Falaiye, Secretary of the NSPS, the prizes are awarded annually to theses that demonstrate originality, academic excellence, and significant contributions to knowledge.
The five awardees were selected after a rigorous evaluation process conducted by experts in their respective fields. Dr. Paul Adesina, a doctoral graduate from Redeemer’s University, received the prize for Physics and Astronomy for his thesis on “Vibrational Dynamics of Driven Oscillators with Phase-Modulated Potential Structures.” His work was noted for its strong originality and analytical depth, with notable contributions to theoretical and computational physics.
Other recipients include Dr. Timilehin Shaba for Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Temitayo Ale for Earth Sciences, Dr. Bello Buhari for Computer Science, and Dr. Temitope Ogunnupebi for Chemistry. Dr. Shaba’s thesis on “New Derivation of q-Differential and q-Convolution Operators on Certain Subclasses of Analytic Functions” was praised for its mathematical rigor and contributions to complex analysis and geometric function theory. Dr. Ale’s research on geotechnical, geophysical, and hydrogeochemical modeling of contaminants flow from dumpsites in southwestern Nigeria has relevance to environmental geosciences and hydrogeology.
The NSPS also recognized Dr. Buhari’s work on web-based user authentication and access control, which addresses contemporary challenges in cybersecurity and secure authentication systems. Dr. Ogunnupebi’s thesis on the structure-based design and synthesis of benzimidazole, benzothiazole, and other arylated derivatives as potential antimicrobial and insecticidal agents demonstrated strong originality and relevance to medicinal and organic chemistry.
Each recipient will receive a cash award, certificate, and life membership of the NSPS, among other prizes, at the society’s annual conference scheduled for February 10. The NSPS congratulated the award recipients on their exceptional scholarly achievements, reaffirming its commitment to fostering excellence in postgraduate research and advancing scientific knowledge for national development. The recognition of these outstanding researchers highlights the importance of promoting academic excellence and innovation in the physical sciences, which is essential for driving national development and addressing global challenges.
