Friday Bako, Jos Plateau State
The outstanding performance in Research and Innovation by Kefas Lamak, a young Plateau-born scholar, has earned him the prestigious 2025 Graduate Research Excellence Award (GREA) from the University of Iowa, United States of America.
As a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Iowa, Kefas Lamak has made history as the first African to receive this highly competitive award as an “All But Dissertation” (ABD) student.
To be eligible for the GREA, Post-Comprehensive Graduate Students must be nominated by their Deans, District Education Officers (DEOs), Departmental Chairs, Supervisors, or Senior Faculty.
Nominees must then submit their Curriculum Vitae for evaluation and selection to the final stage.
In the final stage, nominees are required to present a minute-long presentation based on their dissertation to a committee of seven senior professors from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Graduate College.
Ultimately, one winner is selected from each broader discipline, including Engineering and Mathematics, Biological Medical, or Life Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Kefas Lamak’s exceptional research performance, marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, and focus, earned him the humanities category award at the 2025 Graduate Research Excellence Awards.
Eligibility for this prestigious award hinges on research accomplishments during the nominee’s current study program, research quality, scholarly activity, and presentation quality to the selection committee.
The Award was conferred upon him by Lois Geist, Interim Vice President of Research at the University of Iowa.
By winning this award, Kefas Lamak has brought honor to Plateau State, Nigeria, and Africa, surpassing over 150 African students at the institution.
When reached for a statement on how he feels about receiving this honor and highlighting Plateau State, Nigeria, and Africa’s presence on the world map, the Doctoral Candidate said “This is a testament to my velleity to contribute to knowledge on interdisciplinary and historical studies. I’m extremely spurred to more quietly.
“I’m forever thankful to God for making it possible for me to receive such a recognition. I have never imagined getting any award of this nature, but you know what? What of God’s blessings can we deny?”
He further stated “that coming from a very low-income Family in Plateau State, I see myself rising and accomplishing much and believes that young people on the Plateau can do same or even more if they work hard. He said he has been working hard to get other Plateau Students into big Schools in Iowa.
Kefas Lamak aims to utilize the financial benefits of the Award to provide support to young Plateau Secondary School students who are unable to pay for their Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
Kefas Lamak is making every effort to attain his research doctorate in Religious Studies and African-American Studies.
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