News

Eight eminent African scientists were honored for their lifelong contributions to research and development (R&D) in West and Central Africa.

At an event organized on the bangs of CORAF's 13th General Assembly in N'djamena, CORAF paid tribute to these researchers for their leadership and contributions to advancing the science and research agenda.

Below is the complete list of honorees:

• Dr Paco Sereme
• Prof. Victor Kwame Agyeman
• Dr Famoi Béavogui
• Prof. Abdulai Jalloh
• Dr Djondang Koye
• Prof. Daniel Franck Idiata
• Dr Oumar Chaib Hassanty
• Mr Nathanaël Mupungu Buka

Who are the winners?

These honorees may have different professional and academic backgrounds. But they all have one thing in common: their contributions to food systems research and to advancing the food and nutrition security agenda at local, national, regional and global levels.

Who is Dr Paco Sereme?

Dr Paco Sereme is a plant pathologist from Burkina Faso. He has contributed to research results that have benefited people in his native Burkina Faso and beyond. He has held several management positions in his home country, in Africa and beyond, throughout his career. For some seven years, he was a member of ICRISAT's Board of Directors and became its Chairman in 2018, until his retirement in 2020. In addition, he served CORAF as Executive Director for many years. Overall, Dr. Sereme has made significant contributions to agricultural research, and brings to his credit having forged strong relationships with many institutions to transform agriculture in West and Central Africa.

Who is Pr Victor Kwame Agyeman?

Prof. Victor Kwame Agyeman has been Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) since January 2015. He is Chief Research Scientist and is also recognized as one of Africa's leading experts in tropical forest ecology. Pr Agyeman has been a member of the CORAF Board of Directors since 2017, where he heads the Audit and Governance Committee. CSIR is Ghana's main government research organization, encompassing 13 research agencies, 9 of which carry out research activities related to agriculture. It was established in 1968 to organize and coordinate scientific research in Ghana.

Who is Dr Famoi Béavogui?

Dr Beavogui was a member of CORAF's Board of Directors between 2012 and 2018. At the time, he was Director General of the Institut de recherche agronomique de Guinée (IRAG). IRAG is Guinea's main institute in charge of agricultural R&D. The institute was set up in 1989, under the administrative coordination of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Its mandate is to conduct research on crops, livestock, forestry and socio-economic issues. As CEO of IRAG, Dr Béavogui made a significant contribution to the development of the agricultural industry in his country. He was later appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Who is Pr Abdulai Jalloh?

Pr Abdulai Jalloh is currently Head of Research and Innovation at AfricaRice, based in Boaké. Prior to joining AfricaRice, Pr Jalloh was Director of Research and Innovation at CORAF, helping it to implement its 2018-2022 operational plan, recognized for advancing science and innovation in West and Central Africa. He retired in July 2021. Meanwhile (2016-2017), Pr Jalloh coordinated a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded program (African Cassava Agronomy Initiative) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria. Pr Jalloh has served his native Sierra Leone in a number of capacities, including at the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), where he was Deputy Director General from 2008 to 2009. 

Who is Dr Djondang Koye?

Dr Djondang Koye is an agronomist and agricultural economist. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors as well as Director General of the Chadian Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (ITRAD). Dr Djondang Koye holds a PhD in agricultural economics with over 27 years' experience in agricultural economics, focusing on agricultural production systems, farm management and the integration of agriculture and livestock. He was Scientific Director of ITRAD from December 2005 to June 2014. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pôle régional de recherche appliquée au développement des systèmes agricoles d'Afrique centrale (PRASAC). 

Who is Pr Daniel Franck Idiata?

Gabonese by birth, Pr Idiata is a pschyco-linguist and was a member of the CORAF Board of Directors between 2017-2020. His contribution to research and innovation in Gabon and Central Africa is well documented following his work as Commissioner General of Gabon's Centre national de la recherche scientifique et technologique (CENAREST) and as President of the Pôle régional de recherche appliquée au développement des systèmes agricoles d'Afrique centrale (PRASAC) between 2010 and 2014. Pr Idiata holds a PhD in language sciences, specializing in language acquisition (psycholinguistics), and has been a CAMES Professor since 2011. He has over 20 years' experience in children's language acquisition, the description of African languages, ethnohistory, anthropology and the cultures of Gabon, the reform of national scientific research systems, and the reform of national higher education systems.

Who is Nathanaël Mupungu Buka?

Mr. Nathanaël Mupungu Buka is a Development Specialist and was a member of the CORAF Board of Directors between 2017 and 2019, representing farmers' organizations. Mr. Buka holds a bachelor's degree in scientific and technological development. He was President of the Plateforme régionale des organisations paysannes d'Afrique centrale (PROPAC) from 2017 to 2021. In addition to this responsibility, he has been President of the National Committee for the Promotion of Family Farming in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2014. He is also a member of several organizations promoting agriculture and food security both in the DRC and at regional and international level.

Who is Dr Oumar Chaib Hassanty?

Dr Oumar Chaib Hassanty was Director General of the Chadian Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (ITRAD) in 2019. At that time, he joined the CORAF Board of Directors as Vice-Chairman of the Board. In May 2020, he was appointed Director General of the Chadian Ministry of Production, Irrigation and Agricultural Equipment.

Read more :

• In pictures: CORAF's 13th General Assembly

• CORAF Chairman calls for increased R&D investment

• Researchers challenged to find solutions to climate change and COVID-19

• 13th CORAF General Assembly opens in Chad

• CORAF's 13th General Assembly to discuss plans for accelerating food security