Each year, the L’Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize For Women and Science rewards African women researchers for the excellence of their scientific work.
For the 13th edition, 15 doctoral students and 5 post-doctoral students were rewarded and honored on December 1 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during the award ceremony.
In recent years, the world in general, and Africa in particular, have not been spared by successive crises. Multiplier effect of repeated droughts, repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis, and more recently galloping inflation in the price of cereals and raw materials: instability threatens more and more countries on the continent. To face these many challenges, the world needs science. And science needs women.
Selected from 425 applications by a jury chaired by Professor Aggrey Ambali (Director of Technical Cooperation and Program Funding at the African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD), the 20 Young Talents 2022 were rewarded for the excellence of their research on December 1 in Abidjan. They have been the pride of the 16 countries from which they come, in particular the Niger, Togo and Chad represented for the first time this year.
During this ceremony, they were honored in front of an audience from all over Africa, including Monsieur Dimitri Sanga, Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for West Africa, representatives of the scientific world and public authorities, but also intellectuals and opinion leaders. Among the political figures of Côte d’Ivoire: Kandia Kamissoko CamaraMinister of Foreign Affairs, Marietou KonéMinister of National Education, Myss Belmonde DogoMinister of Solidarity, or even the wife of the Vice-President, Maimouna Koné were present.
On this occasion, the 20 laureates also had the opportunity to discuss with many personalities such as Patrick AchiPrime Minister of Ivory Coast, Dominique OuattaraFirst Lady of Ivory Coast,Francoise RemarckMinister of Culture or even Nasseneba ToureMinister for Women.
“Women scientists are examples of courage, resilience, perseverance, intelligence, strength; and I have a terrible feeling that as a society we have failed them. The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize is a reward for the sacrifices made and an opportunity for the world to discover women of exceptional talent. This is what recalled Alexandra PaltCEO of the L’Oréal Foundation, at the 13th ceremony of the L’Oréal-Unesco Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize For Women and Science.
These 20 scientists of the 2022 L’Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize For Women and Science invest in many areas of research, and are committed to improve the living conditions of millions of people across Africa and the world : secure and increase agricultural harvests to fight poverty and hunger, eradicate diseases such as malaria, better manage and preserve natural and vital resources, strengthen the safety of populations once morest the risk of natural disasters or even develop biopolymers for the ‘industry. Through their commitment and scientific excellence, these young women are a decisive asset for the development of the continent.
These women scientists therefore had to combine perseverance and determination in order to achieve their goals and impose themselves in areas still reserved for men. At a time when the mobilization of all scientific talent has never been so necessary, global research still today pays too little attention to women, and to Africa. Indeed, the share of African scientists among global researchers is only 2.5%.
The Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Prize 2022 L’Oréal-UNESCO therefore aims to carry and support the commitments of these women, who fight every day to bring concrete solutions to the continent, while embodying a model of flawless resilience.
The 20 Young Talents 2022 join the community of 181 researchers who have been supported and honored by the Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Prize For Women and Science since its creation in 2010. Initiated in 2000, the national and regional Young Talents programs For Women and Science of the L’Oréal Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO, make it possible to award nearly 250 prizes each year in more than 110 countries.
The winners of the 2022 Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize
For Women and Science
Southern Africa
Bibi Nausheen JAFFUR, doctoral student in engineering and technology sciences – “Production of biopolymers from plant fibers » – MAURITIUS ISLAND
Beauty MAKAMURE, PhD student in life and environmental sciences – “Whole genome sequencing for the detection of tuberculosis drug resistance in Zimbabwe » – Zimbabwe
Brenda NAMUMBA, post-doctoral student in material sciences – “Using the precursor telescopes of the SKA to unlock the mysteries of the universe » – Zambia
Lovasoa Rina RAHARINAIVO, PhD student in life and environmental sciences – “Plastic pollution and its alternatives in Madagascar » – Madagascar
Bibi Yusra RUHOMALLY, doctoral student in formal sciences – “Modelling the dynamics of drug consumption using the NERA model » – MAURITIUS ISLAND
central Africa
Assia Aboubakar MAHAMAT, post-doctoral student in engineering sciences and technology – “Development of ecological building materials in sub-Saharan Africa » – Chad
Nora NGANYEWO, Ph.D life and environmental sciences – “Genetics and invasion by Plasmodium falciparum in The Gambia » – Cameroon
East Africa
Julliet KIRUI, doctorate en formal sciences – “Classification of water quality using ensemble learning and the Internet of Things » – Kenya
Geraldine MW LENGAI, post-doctoral fellow life and environmental sciences – “Development of botanical fungicide for the management of tomato and potato pests » – Kenya
Ruth MWANGI, doctoral student in life and environmental sciences – “Biopesticides once morest the degradation of post-harvest tomatoes » – Kenya
Ange Cynthia UMUHIRE, doctorate en Science of matter – “Predicting and forecasting space weather in Rwanda » – Rwanda
Bezalem Eshetu YIRDAW, Ph.D formal sciences – “Modelling infant mortality using a multi-level Bayesian network » – Ethiopia
West Africa
Iveren ABIEM, post-doctorate et life and environmental sciences – “Carbon sequestration in the Afromontane forest » – Nigeria
Winifred Ayinpogbilla ATIAH, post-doctoral student in life and environmental sciences – “Seasonal flood forecasting in Ghana » – Ghana
Farida BOUBE DOBI, Ph.D life and environmental sciences – “Groundwater management in Niger » – Niger
Awa Bousso DRAMÉ, doctoral student in life and environmental sciences – “Geospatial sciences and artificial intelligence for coastal monitoring in West Africa » – Senegal
Olyvia Gwladys FADEYI, Ph.Dengineering sciences and technology – “Edible mushroom value chain and financial empowerment of rural women in Benin » – Benign
Adjata KAMARA, Ph.D life and environmental sciences – “Development of biopesticides once morest post-harvest yam rot » – Ivory Coast
Oluwatosin OGUNDOLIE (née AKINWALE), doctorate en formal sciences – “Nigeria Flood Forecast » – Nigeria
Mawulolo YOMO, Ph.D Life and environmental sciences – “Dynamics of seawater intrusion in the coastal sedimentary basin of Togo » – Togo
Press release
