Women feeding Africa as scientists bad awards in Dakar
SENEGAL: Two female scientists namely, Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango from Kenya and Mercy Diebiru-Ojo from Nigeria have been announced as the winners of the 2025 Africa Food Prize.
The award, worth 100,000 US Dollars, was presented by Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Kikwete, who serves as the Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee in Dakar, Senegal.
Professor Abukutsa-Onyango has specialized in research on indigenous African vegetables such as Amaranth leaves (mchicha), kales (sukuma wiki), Spider plant (mgagani), Bitter lettuce (mchunga), Ethiopian kale (figiri), Cassava leaves (kisamvu) while promoting their production and consumption to enhance nutrition.
For her part, Mercy Diebiru-Ojo is celebrated for designing and advancing modern technology for cassava seed production and propagation using the semi-autotrophic hydroponic technique, which has significantly increased yields and productivity in this vital crop across Africa.
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Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Kikwete congratulated the winners for their outstanding contributions to research aimed at increasing productivity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa.
“This prize demonstrates the significant role of African scientists in finding solutions to agricultural challenges. Although this year it has gone to two winners, we recognize the great work being carried out by many individuals and institutions to ensure our continent develops strong and sustainable food systems,” Kikwete said.
The Africa Food Prize was established in 2005 under the umbrella of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The award is given annually to individuals or institutions that make exceptional contributions to strengthening food systems and advancing the agricultural sector where for this year a total of 601 applications were submitted from within and outside Africa to compete.
