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Biography of Dr. Matthew Iwada EKUM
Dr. Matthew Iwada Ekum, a distinguished Nigerian scholar, was born on March 3, 1977, and was raised in Maroko, Eti-Osa LGA of Lagos, Nigeria. His first school was Elegushi Primary, and he later moved to Massey Primary School, both in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. His educational journey continued at Ireakari Primary School, Sari Iganmu, Lagos, where he laid the foundation for his academic pursuits and obtained the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1989. He continued his secondary education at Iganmu High School, Sari Iganmu, Lagos, solidifying his commitment to excellence, and he got his secondary school certificate (WAEC 1995, GCE 2000).

Driven by a passion for statistics, Ekum pursued his higher education at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, where he earned both a National Diploma (ND) and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Statistics in 2000 and 2003, respectively. He served during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Government Technical College, Kontagora, Niger State, in 2004, Batch B. In 2005, he was employed in the banking sector as a Transaction Officer (TO) and was later engaged as an Executive Assistant (EA) at Zenith Bank Plc.

His insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to the prestigious University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Statistics in 2013. Undeterred by the challenges of advanced studies, Dr. Ekum earned a Master of Science Degree (MSc) in 2015 and a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in 2023, both in statistics, from the University of First Choice, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. His academic prowess was recognized when he was awarded the TEEAL/ITOCA prize for the 2nd best paper in the TEEAL paper competition in 2015, specifically in the MSc category for both the West African region and the entire African region, a project supervised by Prof. Felix Famoye.

Currently, Dr. Ekum serves as a lecturer at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, located in Ikorodu, Lagos. Beyond academia, he has established himself as a proficient data analyst and research expert, showcasing mastery in various statistical and mathematical packages such as SPSS, SAS, STATA, Minitab, R, Python, and more. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he has been appointed as the Assistant Director of Research and Development Planning in the Directorate of Academic Planning. This role underscores his commitment not only to education but also to the strategic development and planning of academic research initiatives within the institution. Dr. Ekum's expertise extends beyond the classroom; he is a sought-after resource person for statistical training outfits within and outside Lagos. His specialisation lies in mathematical statistics and data science, and he has further honed his skills through participation in various data science summer schools across Africa.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Ekum has contributed significantly to the academic landscape with over 40 published papers in esteemed journals like Elsevier, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Hindawi, and others. His research spans areas such as probability, statistics, and mathematical modelling, with practical applications in infectious disease, tourism, and diverse fields. Recognized for his scholarly contributions, Dr. Ekum has accumulated over 300 citations on Google Scholar. As a testament to his commitment to academic integrity, he is a reviewer for reputable publishers, including Elsevier. He developed the normal-power model, which is used as a substitute for the normal model, especially when the data is bimodal and has a lot of applications in different fields.

Outside of his professional achievements, Dr. Matthew Iwada Ekum finds joy in family life. He is happily married to Adeyinka, and together, they are blessed with three children: Success, Salem, and Surely-Dominion. Dr. Ekum's life and career stand as a testament to the power of dedication, passion, and continuous pursuit of knowledge.