Dr. Pearl Abu, Team Lead of the Maize Breeding Programme at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, has been awarded the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea Fellowship Programme for Young Women Scientists in Africa 2024.
The award was presented by the President of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, during the 9th Edition of the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in Life Sciences, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Presiding over this momentous event was also Khaled El-Anany, Director General of the UNESCO.
This prestigious fellowship supports two exceptional young African women in the life sciences each year. It aims to bridge gender gaps in science by providing targeted support and creating opportunities for young women to actively participate and lead in diverse life science disciplines. Dr. Abu and Dr. Tegwinde Rebeca Compaore are the inaugural recipients of this prestigious programme.
Dr. Abu was recognised for her significant contributions to Africa’s scientific and technological advancement, particularly her research on evaluating the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a biofertilizer to reduce chemical fertilizer use in maize production in Ghana, as well as her innovative work in leading research to develop protein- and provitamin A-enriched maize hybrids that are tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
In his address to the award recipients, H.E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo stated: “I hope your example, consistency and work will motivate many other young African people to follow the path of research and innovation.”
He further emphasized the importance of scientific investment, noting: “Investing in science is the most humanitarian act a country can undertake. Scientific research transcends borders, languages, and ideologies and provides an inescapable service to mankind”.
The ceremony was attended by international delegations and personalities from the scientific and cultural community and senior government officials of Equatorial Guinea.
This recognition highlights WACCI’s leadership in agricultural innovation and underscores the impact of Ghanaian scientists in advancing food and nutrition security across Africa.
About the Fellowship
The Young African Women Scientists Programme, established in 2024 by UNESCO’s Executive Board and funded by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, aims to promote and support two exceptional young African women in the life sciences. The programme seeks to encourage their active participation in their countries’ scientific and technological development and provides grants to advance their research and foster promising scientific careers.
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