Dr. Adetoun Akintoye, crowned UNILAG’s Best PhD Graduate, transformed her passion for food security into groundbreaking cassava research, proving that resilience, innovation, and faith can turn local challenges into global solutions.
Dr. Adetoun Akintoye, the Overall Best Graduating PhD Student in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Lagos, recently shared with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI the challenges she faced and sacrifices she made on her path to academic excellence.
Dr. Akintoye, widely known as Heiress or Mademoiselle, is a multi-passionate individual whose varied interests have shaped her journey. She is the founder of the Mademoiselle Foundation, a platform focused on empowering young girls to become leaders, and has led ventures like Heiress Creatives and Heiress Foods, the latter aimed at innovating cassava-based products through the “Cassinnovation” project.
In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, she is an accomplished writer with publications including The Journal of a Young School Girl, How Students Can Fly in Colours, and The Poetic Psalms. She also founded Heiress Nation, a faith-based initiative simplifying the gospel through poetry and storytelling.
Dr. Akintoye pursued Industrial Chemistry due to her fascination with transforming local raw materials into value-added products. After graduating as one of the top students in her class, she was retained as a Graduate Assistant, which set her on the path to a PhD.
Encouraged by her first supervisor, Professor Wesley Okiei, she focused her research on cassava deterioration, aiming to develop electrochemical sensors and biomaterials to mitigate spoilage. Her goal extended beyond academic achievement, seeking practical solutions to enhance food security and support local farmers. Dr. Isaac Adebayo Akinbulu, her second supervisor, also played a pivotal role in guiding her work.
Dr. Akintoye completed her PhD at the University of Lagos in the 2023/2024 session, officially graduating in January 2025. Having earned both her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the institution, her academic path was influenced by several mentors and events. A significant turning point occurred during a university event where Professor Folasade Ogunsola, then Deputy Vice-Chancellor, inspired her to view academia as a prestigious pursuit.
Support from notable figures such as former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, alongside guidance from distinguished professors, contributed to her academic success. The conducive environment provided by the School of Postgraduate Studies under Professor Abraham A. Osinubi and Dr. Adegboyega B. Ehinmowo also played a critical role.
Dr. Akintoye’s doctoral research focused on extending cassava’s shelf life by identifying and eliminating agents responsible for its deterioration. This work aimed to reduce food waste and improve economic outcomes for farmers.
Her PhD journey, spanning approximately four years, faced significant obstacles, including funding constraints, experimental failures, and balancing multiple responsibilities. Nevertheless, perseverance, faith, and passion kept her moving forward. Her efforts culminated in recognition as the Best Overall PhD Thesis Award recipient during the 2025 convocation ceremonies.
Like many doctoral candidates, Dr. Akintoye experienced periods of self-doubt and considered quitting. However, the desire to produce globally impactful research and her commitment to food security sustained her. She overcame challenges by breaking tasks into manageable portions and focusing on tangible results.
A disciplined planner, Dr. Akintoye meticulously structured her days and leveraged collaboration with colleagues. Attending conferences and seeking additional training, such as the cassava processing course at IITA, broadened her perspective and fueled new research outputs.
Defining moments in her research included successful shelf-life extension formulations, developing non-enzymatic sensors for spoilage detection during her bench work in Brazil, and earning the Best Paper Award at the ARUA-COE for USD Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr. Akintoye made significant sacrifices, such as avoiding social media, distancing herself from distractions, and dedicating long hours to research in the university library. Despite receiving scholarships, she also personally financed parts of her research.
Support from her family, particularly her parents, Prince Adesegun Akitoye and Olori Gbemisola Akitoye, as well as her spiritual community, friends, and mentors, provided vital encouragement throughout the process. Her partner played a crucial role, offering both emotional support and practical assistance.
Throughout her PhD, Dr. Akintoye found solace in prayer, writing, and mentoring young girls. These outlets helped her manage stress and stay connected to her broader purpose beyond academia.
Upon learning she had been named the best graduating PhD student, Dr. Akintoye felt overwhelming gratitude. Although she had worked intentionally towards excellence, the accolade still felt surreal, marking the culmination of years of effort, supported by her partner and mentors who consistently encouraged her ambition.
In Dr. Akintoye’s view, what distinguishes an outstanding PhD student is not just intelligence but passion, resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to contributing meaningful knowledge to society. Traits such as discipline, collaboration, continuous learning, and spiritual grounding are equally essential.
Through her research, Dr. Akintoye hopes to transform cassava into a profitable, GDP-boosting crop in Nigeria and contribute to global food security. Her career vision integrates academia, industry, and social impact, with ongoing commitments to research, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and faith-driven writing.
Looking ahead, she is open to postdoctoral opportunities, particularly at Ivy League institutions, while balancing personal life and continued professional growth.
Dr. Akintoye encourages prospective PhD students to pursue areas they are passionate about and to approach their work with determination. She advises breaking down large goals into achievable steps, seeking mentorship, staying disciplined, and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Dr. Akintoye aspires to demystify chemistry for younger generations and demonstrate its potential to solve real-world problems. Her ultimate goal is to be remembered as a scientist who bridged research with practical solutions, advancing food security, sustainable agriculture, and scientific innovation in Africa and beyond.
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