Nigeria, April 20 -- A Nigerian doctoral student, Muneer Yaqub, has been named the winner of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award (PhD) at the University of Texas at Dallas in the United States.

In a letter dated 2 March, the university said the award recognises academic excellence, service (to the discipline, university or community), and perseverance in the face of challenges.

The award was conferred by the university's Office of Graduate Education.

Mr Yaqub was nominated by the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics before emerging as the overall winner.

"You were first nominated by the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics' Associate Dean for Graduate Education; then, you were selected from amongst six schools' nominati...