(Bradenton, Fla., August 7, 2025)—Richard Daramola, an assistant professor of economics at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, has co-authored a research study about the long-term outcomes of an infectious disease mass immunization program for low-income young children in West Africa. The study, titled “The Lasting Effects of Early Childhood Interventions: The National Vaccination Commando Program in Burkina Faso,” builds on chapter one of Daramola’s dissertation for his economics Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.

The vaccination program was conducted in the 1980s in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The country has faced broader challenges in health access and human capital, making the study relevant for global development policy, said Daramola.

“Early childhood is a critical stage of development, and we wanted to assess whether early investments, such as mass vaccination campaigns, can influence outcomes like education, health, and labor market performance,” Daramola said. “Studying the program allowed me to apply economic analysis to real-world policy challenges affecting vulnerable populations. It reinforces my belief in the lasting impact of well-designed public health programs and supports my commitment to evidence-based policymaking in low-income settings.”

The study’s key findings are that children exposed to the campaign in early life experienced improved health outcomes and higher educational attainment later in life, and that there is suggestive evidence that early exposure translated into improved employment prospects in adulthood. Daramola has presented the findings at conferences, with support from SCF.

The study’s co-authors are economics faculty, Md Shahadath Hossain of the University of Houston, Harounan Kazianga of Oklahoma State University, and Karim Nchare of Vanderbilt University. They are working on a follow-up paper examining intergenerational effects and community spillovers. They plan to submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal.

Daramola grew up in a small town in Nigeria, Africa, and emigrated to the U.S. in 2011. He was hired in the business department at SCF in August 2023. He teaches Principles of Economics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Personal Finance, and Financial Management at SCF Venice. In addition to his Ph.D., Daramola holds a master’s in mathematics from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, a master’s in mathematics and a master’s in economics from Central Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria.

Learn more about SCF’s faculty members and their work at SCF.edu.

Photo caption: SCF Assistant Professor of Economics Richard Daramola