Thabo Mohlala
Forty promising young researchers have been selected by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) as part of its endeavour to produce a pipeline of researchers who can hold their own against their global counterpart.
This is AAS’s sixth cohort under one of its flagship initiative called’ ‘Affiliates Membership Programme (AMP). The programme has been designed to recognise, mentor and develop early career researcher into world class research leaders.
In a statement last week Friday, AAS said that by recognising emerging scientists who demonstrate excellence in their work, it seeks to create a platform through which younger researchers are motivated to pursue a rewarding career in science. The AAS said in the end the Affiliates Programme seeks to produce all-rounded scientists embodying the academy’s values of excellence, empathy, diversity and integrity.
The selected group comprises 21 females and 19 males from 15 countries, which includes Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia and Mauritius.
The 40 affiliates were selected from over 200 competitive applicants who responded to the 2020 ‘Call for AAS Affiliates’. They join an existing network of 127 affiliates drawn from various African countries and across several scientific disciplines.
The academy said the selection followed a rigorous process based on their demonstrated excellence in the development and application of science in Africa. AAS added that the selection of the group does not only reflect its commitment to gender balance but also diversity in scientific disciplines.
Acting executive director of the AAS, Professor Catherine Ngila said: “The programme provides opportunities for mentorship to support early career researchers (ECRs) and acts as platform for building networks and partnership opportunities. The affiliate fellowship is a platform for the AAS to grow a critical mass of researchers who work towards being recognised for nomination and election as AAS Fellows. The programme is in line with our tripartite mandate of recognising excellence.”
Ngila added that the affiliates are zealous researchers whose work strengthens and builds the scientific community by being innovators, reviewers, supervisors, mentors, lecturers, volunteers, policy advisors, and members of professional associations. During their five-year membership, they will receive professional development support in grant writing, publishing, science communication, collaborative research, scientific leadership, and entrepreneurship, mentoring and networking.
One of the selected affiliates, Delwendé Innocent Kiba from Burkina Faso was excited about being part of the cohort. “Science is a key pathway for Africa to achieve its Agenda 2063. As a soil scientist, I hope, through my affiliation with the AAS for the next five years, to develop research initiatives and partnerships that can provide innovation to limit soil degradation and eradicate poverty and food insecurity in Africa. I want to be a leader in the development of good science policy in Africa and become a mentor for the next generation of young African scientists,” she said.
If it is okay, I suggest we don’t publish the names below together with the main article but we should have the link…?
For more information on the names of the cohort and categories, click here:
Agricultural and Nutrition Sciences
1. NseAbasi Etim – Nigeria
2. Emeline Sessi Pelagie Assede – Benin
3. Emmanuel Opolot – Uganda
4. Olaniyi Fawole – Nigeria
5. Delwendé Innocent Kiba – Burkina Faso
6. Nusirat Elelu – Nigeria
Biosciences
7. Menattallah Elserafy – Egypt
8. Rencia Van der Sluis – South Africa
9. Olamide Adebiyi – Nigeria
10. Amy Bei – Senegal
11. Chika Ejikeugwu – Nigeria
12. Christopher Larbie – Ghana
13. Anthony Afum-Adjei Awuah – Ghana
14. Eric Djomo Nana – Cameroon
Chemical Sciences
15. Cynthia Ibeto – Nigeria
16. Bridget Mutuma – Kenya
17. Prinessa Chellan – South Africa
18. Lydia Rhyman – Mauritius
19. Armelle Tsamo Tontsa – Cameroon
Cultural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
20. Oluwafemi Adeagbo – Nigeria
21. Chahir Zaki – Egypt
22. Pedi Obani – Nigeria
Geological, Environmental, Earth and Space Sciences
23. Nicholas Simpson – Zimbabwe
24. Olumuyiwa Adegun – Nigeria
25. Behailu Berehanu – Ethiopia
26. Charlotte Ndiribe – Nigeria
27. Binyam Tesfaw Hailu – Ethiopia
28. Oluwatoyin Fatunsin – Nigeria
Medical and Health Sciences
29. Motunrayo Akande – Nigeria
30. Petra Nnamani – Nigeria
31. Francis Wafula – Kenya
32. Franklin Kenechukwu – Nigeria
33. Eleanor Ochodo Opondo – Kenya
34. Constance Shumba – Zimbabwe
35. Mohamed Jemaà- Tunisia
36. Luciano Tantely – Madagascar
37. Dickson Wilson Lwetoijera – Tanzania
38. Omamuyovwi Ijomone – Nigeria
39. Mona Abdelmottaleb – Egypt
Physical Sciences
40. Ossénatou Mamadou – Benin
