In January 2025, Missouri State University’s Dr. Paul Ajuwon will travel back to his home country of Nigeria as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar.

A professor in the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies at Missouri State, Ajuwon received a Fulbright Scholar award for 2024-25. These awards are prestigious and competitive fellowships that enable scholars to teach, conduct research and carry out community and professional projects worldwide.

Ajuwon will work at a host institution, the University of Calabar in southeast Nigeria.

“This is my first time applying for this program, so it’s exciting to get this award,” Ajuwon said. “Since I’m originally from Nigeria, I know the educational landscape very well and the challenges people over there face. I’m happy to go back to provide some service.”

As a blind individual growing up in Nigeria, Ajuwon is familiar with obstacles the vulnerable and disadvantaged in the country encounter.

“We need the external collaboration and support from countries like the United States. This is a compelling reason for me to step forward and see how I can help,” he said. “I’m glad this initiative aligns well with Missouri State’s vision and mission of global education and engagement.”

Enhancing the quality of education

For half a year, Ajuwon will help the University of Calabar’s special education department to strengthen their curriculum, resources and community outreach.

He will co-teach a few courses focusing on areas, such as inclusive education; assistive technology application; family involvement in the education of children with disabilities; and issues pertaining to mathematics and Braille literacies for undergraduate and graduate students.

“These are very current topical issues that several of the institutions in Nigeria are grappling with, so I’ll provide them some practical instruction,” Ajuwon said.

In terms of research, he will collaborate with colleagues there. In addition, he will interact with the stakeholders — families of children with disabilities, university administrators, policymakers, etc. — to fully understand their experiences, concerns and needs.

“I want to find out directly from them how we can contribute to remedy the problems they face in the process of building a sustainable system for educating and increasing the employability and integration of the vulnerable in the Nigerian society,” Ajuwon said.

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world.

It is funded mainly through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Part of the Fulbright Program, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to make an impact abroad.

Applications are currently open for the 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program (deadline Sept. 16, 2024).