Opeyemi Olamiposi Odunola (memorabilia attached), a graduate student in the Department of Sustainability Studies, at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She had her undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She did her one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (COAES), BOWEN University, Iwo, Nigeria. She is a development coach for children and teenagers, and an author and public speaker. Her expectation for the AGMCP Fellowship Year is to increase her learning and research capacity in the area of Economic Sustainability of African Food Systems. Opeyemi is being mentored by Dr Bola Awotide.
Ahmed Abi Abdi Warsame (memorabilia attached) was born in Mogadishu, Republic of Federal Somalia, and raised in Somaliland, Northern Somalia. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). In 2008, he was granted a governmental scholarship for foreigners to attend his Bachelor’s (BSc) training at the University of Bahri (Sudan). In October 2020, he was delighted to be granted a RUFORUM@MasterCard scholarship to pursue his master’s (MSc) studies in Uganda. He is an expert in animal production and marketing, and a certified expert in climate change advocacy, leadership, Sustainable Development Goals, and One Health. His research interest includes farm animal productivity, agri-business sustainability, dairy cow resilience, and collaboration and partnership development and networking to the public and private partnerships at large. He has over 8 years of experience in the One Health Approach sector in Africa. He genuinely believes that the Fellowship Year will direct and promote him to develop into an effective researcher who would support sustainable development in Africa and also have a better knowledge of how to communicate research results through publications. Ahmed is being mentored by Dr Omobolaji Obisesan.
Samwel Auya (memorabilia attached) is a Sociologist in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, at Egerton University, Kenya. He is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). His research interests revolve around food security, communication of agricultural technologies to households in remote areas, decentralization, gender issues and rural development. He has published a number of academic papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to chapters in books. Dr Auya is being mentored by Professor Idowu Oladele.
Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa (memorabilia attached) was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). Akim is a health economist and health systems researcher with more than seven years of progressive research experience focusing mainly on the economic burden of malaria, maternal and child health, food security, and malnutrition. He holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, specialising in Health Economics, and currently finalising his PhD in Public Health with a specialization in Health Economics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Akim is conversant with research ethics and the application of different concepts across disciplines majoring in econometrics, statistical analysis, mathematical modelling, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. He is also published in peer-reviewed journals. Akim is being mentored by Dr Dontsop Nguezet.
Ibrahim Tuzee Abdul-Raheem (memorabilia attached) holds a Master of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance, from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He is co-founder and Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Governance cluster at Rescue Mission International (ReMI) and an Environmental Governance Consultant with OnFrontiers. Ibrahim is a Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Regional Programme, Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa Scholar and also the Africa Regional Focal Point of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Constituency under the United Nations Environment Programme -Major Group for Children and Youth (UNEP-MGCY). Ibrahim is being mentored by Dr Olawale Olayide.
Peter Kipkorir (memorabilia attached) holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management from Moi University, Kenya. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). Peter is also a part-time Lecturer at Moi University, Kenya and the University of Eldoret, Kenya, respectively. He is currently doing his PhD in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management at Moi University, Kenya. He is a WISE-Futures Fellow and currently a McKinsey Forward Fellow and Kenya Green Leaders and Academy Fellow. He is also a member of the Association for Mentoring and Inclusion (AMIE) Mentees, and African Farm Management Association, and International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. Peter is a peer manuscript reviewer at Tobacco Induced Diseases Journal and a research grantee on Tobacco Control Project awarded by the Center for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) in Collaboration with International Center for Research and Development (IDRC). Peter is being mentored by Dr Dontsop Nguezet.
Prosper Tonderai Mataruse (memorabilia attached) is a Zimbabwean and a PhD student in the Department of Community and Social Development at the University of Zimbabwe. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He had a BSc in Sociology and a Master’s in Social Ecology. His PhD research focuses on the socio-economic and institutional dynamics in the management of forests as sources of carbon from where smallholder farmers can get manure to improve their soil fertility. His ultimate aim is to develop a socio-institutional framework that would create an enabling environment for effective carbon-sequestering agricultural practices. His research experience and interests are in resilience and management of social-ecological systems, natural resources management, climate change, agroecology and sustainable livelihoods. He hopes for opportunities to interact and develop collaborations with renowned researchers in his field. Prosper is being mentored by Dr Alice Mweetwa.
Victoria Atinuke Olujimi (memorabilia attached) is a PhD student at the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She specialises in the use of quantitative, qualitative as well as ethnographic methods to carry out research and policy advisory to solve societal problems. Her research interests are in the informal sector with relation to trade, market practices, work-life balance, entrepreneurship abilities, and gender issues. She has worked as a research advisor for various projects by individuals and non-governmental organisations in different sectors. She consults for Youth Party, a political party in Nigeria as a Research and Policy Advisor. She has worked on policy reviews on health, agriculture, education, security, employment and gender issues thereby giving recommendations that will improve the economy. She is a Research Fellow with the Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA), a Fellow of the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies, and a member of the Postgraduate Writing Hub (PGWH). Victoria is being mentored by Dr Omobolaji Obisesan.
Enock Asante Osei (memorabilia attached), is a citizen of Ghana. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He is an MPhil student at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana. He specializes in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture, University for Development Studies (WACWISA – UDS) with research interest in precision irrigation, climate change and variability, crop modelling, and food-water-energy-nexus. His motivation for the AGMCP is the fact that learning is a never-ending spiral, and hopes to see a better version of himself after the Fellowship Year. Enock is being mentored by Dr Desalegn Ayal.
Tabitha Avoga (memorabilia attached) is passionate about digital agriculture and food systems for inclusivity, poverty and hunger reduction. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She holds a BSc in agricultural extension and is currently enrolled as a master’s student of Agricultural Extension at Egerton University, Kenya. Tabitha also works as a volunteer in the Department of Agriculture, Kenya as a digital agriculture champion. Tabitha is being mentored by Dr Ebenezer Ajayi.
Oluwa-Tobi Caleb Onibon (memorabilia attached) is a citizen of Benin. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Management and Sustainability at the University for Development Studies, Ghana. His current research focuses on energy security, environmental sustainability and livelihood nexus. He previously served as a Junior Consultant at TDH Expertise in the Republic of Benin. He is expecting to broaden his critical thinking, writing skills and research skills and hopes to connect with professionals in the field of Energy Security in order to contribute knowledge that ensures clean energy security in Africa. Oluwa-Tobi is being mentored by Dr Fama Gueye.
Christian Cocou Dansou (memorabilia attached) was born and raised in the town of Lokossa, Benin. He is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Natural Sciences with options in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Applications at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. He obtained a PhD at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin in 2022. His research work focuses on the use of medicinal plants to improve the gastrointestinal parasitosis of small ruminants. He hopes to continue the research work until phytomedicines can be made available to livestock farmers His expectation is to improve his research and writing skills. Dr Dansou is being mentored by Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa.
Mulunji Mtawali (memorabilia attached) is a young aspiring animal scientist from Malawi. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi. He has worked as a private animal nutrition consultant and an assistant broiler breeder manager with Malawi’s largest poultry supplier. In 2021, he was selected for an agriculture exchange programme in Israel where he did his training in dairy production. He is enrolled in an MSc programme for animal sciences with a primary research focus on dairy. His work is on sustainable solutions dealing with mastitis, the dairy value chain, and the sustainability of dairy farming systems. He looks forward to building capacity in technical writing, conceptualization, paper publication, and data analytics as well as creating new connections with fellow researchers from Africa. Mulunji is being mentored by Dr Desalegn Ayal.
Vanessa Mzembe (memorabilia attached) is a student at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She is determined to find solutions to anthropogenic and livestock-related issues that affect the environment and animals. She believes that good management and production systems in livestock can help to alleviate the effects of climate change and sustain African food systems. Vanessa is being mentored by Dr Desalegn Ayal.
Joël Bidounga (memorabilia attached) is a Congolese, and a PhD student in biology at the Pan African University Institute of Basic Science, Technology and Innovation in Kenya. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He is interested in food microbiology, including mycology, particularly moulds and mycotoxins. He is working on new biological methods to solve the problem of mycotoxins in food. Joel is being mentored by Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa.
Fèmi Hounnou (memorabilia attached) is a Research Assistant and part-time Lecturer at the School of Agricultural Economics of the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. He is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics. Fèmi Hounnou is also a climapAfrica post-doctoral fellow at the University of Parakou, Benin. He hopes to promote sustainable crop production through sustainable land management in the context of climate change to improve small farmers’ livelihoods and government export income. His research expertise lies in climate change effects analysis and particularly focuses on economic modelling to explore and quantify the impact of climate change and agricultural policies, including adaptive strategies to cope with climate change and socio-ecological systems. Dr Hounnou is being mentored by Dr Faith Kasim.
Sam Kizito Otim (memorabilia attached) is a graduate student in Water Policy at the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences-(PAUWES), Tlemcen University, Algeria. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Water Resources Engineering, from Busitema University, Uganda. His research interest focuses on Water Resources, Food Security, Climate Change, Environmental Management, and Sustainable Food Systems. He hopes to widen his research writing, knowledge and skills, and science communication skills while creating a network and interacting with people from different professional, academic and cultural backgrounds. Sam is being mentored by Ms Souhir Belaid.
Bukola Aanuoluwapo Akintelure (memorabilia attached) is a graduate student at the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Her research interests are Food Production, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Food Security. She believes that the AGMCP Fellowship will help to improve her writing and research skills. Bukola is being mentored by Dr Birasa Nyamulinda.
Margaret Kavindu James (memorabilia attached) was born and raised in Makueni county, Kenya. She is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She joined the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as a Research Assistant between 2016 and 2018, where she participated in a variety of projects. She is a budding scholar. She received the Baoquality sponsorship in 2018 for her master’s degree. Her current PhD programme is being sponsored by the GeckoCir project, a circularity-focused initiative in Kenya. She also has three years of working experience in the dairy industry. She is excited to be part of the team working on Sustainable African Food Systems. Margaret is being mentored by Dr Ebenezer Ajayi.
Finagnon Toyi Kevin Fassinou (memorabilia attached) is a citizen of Benin. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He obtained a Master’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Abomey Calavi, Benin. Following his interest in local resource valorization, he obtained the support of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) through project CARP+ implemented in Benin on Baobab products. He worked on the development of a complementary food supplement based on local resources to address iron deficiency among children aged 6 to 59 months. This complementary food supplement has recorded high acceptability levels and has good nutritional content and enabling him to be awarded the Field Attachment Program Award (FAPA) in 2020 funded by RUFORUM for these findings dissemination among the local communities. He is enrolled as a PhD student at the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment of Gulu University, Uganda. His research interest is to improve the carbohydrate quality of cereals products to address issues of Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs). He hopes to improve his research skills and develop research collaboration with other professionals during the Fellowship Year. Finagnon is being mentored by Dr Marius Affonfere.
Mary Gichure (memorabilia attached) is a Veterinary Lecturer at the Department of Animal Sciences, Chuka University, Kenya. She is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, and a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, all from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has a special interest in improving the livelihoods of communities depending on livestock through projects in livestock economics. She has previously worked with working donkeys on assessing their benefits and production challenges, their suitability for work as well as the risk factors and prevalence of diseases. Dr Gichure is being mentored by Dr Olawale Olayide.
Edwin Karoney (memorabilia attached) is a PhD Plant Pathology student at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He obtained a Master’s degree in Crop Protection and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Biotechnology from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya. His research interest is in plant pathology, and the development of sustainable control strategies to minimize food losses. He is also a promoter of environmental protection using eco-friendly agricultural techniques. He hopes to broaden his networks and linkages for future research collaborations towards making Africa a food-secure continent. Edwin is being mentored by Professor Idowu Oladele.
Prisca Atieno (memorabilia attached) is a PhD student in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). Her main research interests are food, nutrition security, and food systems in developing countries. Her current research is using a True Cost Accounting approach to assess how coffee production, processing and consumption contribute to environmental, health and social externalities that are not accounted for in the final price of coffee. Prisca is being mentored by Dr Birasa Nyamulinda.
Douglas Otoo (memorabilia attached) is a citizen of Uganda. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He holds a Bachelor’s degree of Arts in Economics from Makerere University, Uganda. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Agri-Enterprises Development at Gulu University, Uganda. His current research is on the drivers of agricultural innovations amongst extension workers in Northern Uganda. His interests also include food systems and sustainability, agri-food innovation, agribusiness, livelihoods, and market systems development. He hopes to improve his research and communication skills as well as expand his professional networks during the Fellowship Year. Douglas is being mentored by Dr Olawale Olayide.
Aboubakr Gambo Boukary (memorabilia attached) holds a PhD in Climate Change Economics from the West Africa Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Graduate Study Programme at Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. He is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He is currently a Lecturer/Researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Management of Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger. His research interests include resilience and adaptation to climate-related shocks, food security, migration, poverty, and international trade. Dr Boukary is being mentored by Dr Faith Kasim.
Precious Muluh (memorabilia attached) is a young and aspiring Economist with two years of experience specializing in policy and advocacy mostly in the domain of Development. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She is currently a Lecturer at the Yaoundé International Business School, in Cameroon. Precious is being mentored by Dr Grace Alawa.
Semeni Ngozi (memorabilia attached) is a Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). Her research interests are agribusiness development, marketing, agricultural value chain analysis, entrepreneurship and innovations, production economics, econometrics, and research methodologies. She is currently a visiting post-doctoral Fellow under the Alliance for African Partnership-Feed the Future, Michigan State University (MSU). She has also worked with regional and international organizations such as the International Potato Centre (CIP), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and Kilimo Trust (KT). Dr Ngozi is being mentored by Dr Souleimane Adekambi.
Moses Mukui (memorabilia attached) is a graduate student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He believes that, as a Food Technologist, Africa can develop Sustainable African Food Systems to tackle the problems of hunger, food losses, and food insecurity. His areas of research interest include political governance of the African food systems. He looks forward to learning more about sustainable African food systems in the course of the Fellowship Year. Moses is being mentored by Dr Grace Alawa.
Denis Kimutai Yegon (memorabilia attached) is a graduate student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya. He is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He has developed a strong passion for research activities involving the use of non-destructive techniques for the quality determination of fresh fruits and vegetables. He is currently a research assistant for a doctoral research project involving the use of portable near-infrared spectroscopy to determine the maturity indices of cactus berries. His research career goal is to shed light on the use of current technologies for addressing issues relating to food quality assurance, traceability, and adulteration. Yegon is being mentored by Professor Hussein Sulieman.
Jennifer Nyambura Kago (memorabilia attached) is a citizen of Kenya. She is a Master Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She is a graduate student of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya. She had her undergraduate studies in Dairy Technology and Management at Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya. Her areas of research interest are food safety and sustainable food systems. Jennifer is being mentored by Professor Oluwole Fatunbi.
Chukwuebuka Christopher Okolo (memorabilia attached) is currently a Research Scientist in the Department of Natural Resources Management, at Jimma University in Ethiopia. He is a Post-doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Soil Science from Mekelle University Ethiopia and a Master’s Degree in Soil Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He is a Green Talents awardee (2017), Climate, Food and Farming, Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships (CLIFF-GRADS) Fellow within the Global Research Alliance (GRA) Network (2019), member of the American Geophysical Union (2019), recipient of the African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) Junior Research Grant (2021), DAAD Climate research Alumni, and Post-doc in Africa (ClimapAfrica) Postdoc Fellow (2022). His research interests are in the areas of monitoring and measurement of greenhouse gases in different agroecosystems; soil carbon sequestration in relation to climate change; carbon allocation and transformation in the soil-plant system; land use management; and climate-smart agriculture. Dr Okolo is being mentored by Professor Oluwole Fatunbi.
Alina Ntsiapane (memorabilia attached) is a citizen of South Africa. She is a Doctoral Fellow of the Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4). She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of the Free State in South Africa. She is a multi-international award winner. She has a demonstrable passion for research in sustainable agriculture and food systems in Africa. Alina is being mentored by Dr Bola Awotide.