- Two brothers, Gbolahan and Oluwasegun Adekoya, pursued doctoral degrees in Polymer Engineering at the same South African university
- The brothers previously shared a graduation stage in 2023, with one receiving his doctorate while the other completed his master's degree
- Oluwasegun's research focused on using computer simulations to design nanomaterials for delivering antiviral and antimalarial medicines
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Two brothers have marked a rare family milestone by earning the same doctoral qualification at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in South Africa, with just three years separating their achievements.
Source: Facebook
Details shared by TUT indicate that Oluwasegun Chijioke Adekoya received his Doctor of Engineering at TUT's Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Spring Graduation on October 13, 2026, completing a journey that his elder brother Gbolahan Joseph Adekoya had started before him.
Gbolahan earned the same qualification in Polymer Engineering from the same institution back in 2023.
A Graduation Stage They Once Shared
The October 2023 ceremony holds special significance for the family. On that same day, Gbolahan collected his doctorate while Oluwasegun received his master's degree with a distinction. Watching his brother walk across the stage with a PhD in hand planted a seed, and Oluwasegun resolved to follow the same path in their shared academic field.
His doctoral research took him into the intersection of computational science and medicine, exploring how computer simulations could support the design of advanced nanomaterials capable of delivering antiviral and antimalarial medicines. He expressed hope that the work would lay the groundwork for broader research into polymer-based drug delivery systems.
Oluwasegun's medical angle was not accidental. His earlier training in medical laboratory science shaped his focus, drawing him towards healthcare applications within materials engineering. He also acknowledged the guidance of his supervisors, Professors Emmanuel Rotimi Sadiku and Yskandar Hamam, crediting them with supporting him throughout his studies.
Awards, Family and What Comes Next
Before completing his doctorate, Oluwasegun received the Prof Sabu Thomas Best PG/PhD Thesis Award for 2022–2023 and claimed first place in the doctoral poster presentation category at TUT's Faculty Research Day in 2024.
Gbolahan, who now serves as a postdoctoral research fellow in TUT's Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, described the brothers' shared achievement as a meaningful family moment. Both men also paid tribute to their mother, whose financial support, prayers and sacrifices sustained them through years of study.
For Oluwasegun, the doctorate is not a finish line but a platform. He intends to pursue postdoctoral research in computational materials science, nanomedicine and polymer-based drug delivery, viewing everything accomplished so far as a foundation rather than a conclusion.
Kenyan Woman Graduates in US
In other news, TUKO also highlighted facts about Wangari Gachu, a Kenyan woman in the US who graduated with a master’s degree while raising her four-year-old child.
She credited her husband’s sacrifices and late-night support for helping her reach the milestone, which she dedicated to her child: “Mama did this for both of us.”
Source: TUKO.co.ke