Marius Affonfere (memorabilia attached) was born and raised in the Savalou district (Republic of Benin). In 2011, he was granted a national scholarship to attend his Bachelor’s (BSc) training at the National University of Agriculture (Benin). In December 2015, he was delighted to be granted a RUFORUM scholarship to pursue his Master’s (MSc) studies. Through this RUFORUM scholarship, he gained enough experience in terms of field and laboratory work, among others. In January 2018, he obtained his Master’s degree in Agricultural, Food Science, and Technologies at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences (FSA)/University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin. In February 2018, Marius Affonfere was awarded a six-month RUFORUM Community-Based Field Attachment Program Award (CFAPA) to scale out and disseminate his MSc thesis research findings. Marius Affonfere is currently a Ph.D. student at the National University of Agriculture (Benin). His research area falls on the use of local food resources to alleviate undernutrition among children. As a 2022 African Graduates Mentorship and Coaching Program (AGMCP) fellow, he is expecting training on research project writing and life coaching for his professional career. Marius Affonfere is mentored by Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi.

Grace Oluwatoyin Abobade (memorabilia attached) is a Master’s student of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AERD) University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a Nigerian. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) in 2015 and a Master of Science in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the University of Ibadan in 2019. Her research interest includes climate change, future food sustainability, Agri-food innovation, Food security, and Rural livelihood diversification. She believes the AGMCP fellowship will guide and help her become a successful researcher that will promote sustainable development in Africa and also have a better understanding of how to disseminate research results via publication. Grace is mentored by Dr. Omobolaji Obisesan.

Alex Malaala (memorabilia attached) is a master’s student of Plant Breeding and Seed Systems at Makerere University, Kampala. He holds a bachelor of science in Horticulture from the same university. Mr. Malaala currently works with Makerere University Center for Soybean Improvement and Development (MAKCSID) as a Research Assistant, and the Lead Agronomist at Soybean Africa Limited. His research interest is in seed technology, genomics, quantitative genetics, agronomy, farming systems, and horticulture. His postgraduate research focuses on the “Evaluation of different storage materials on germination, viability, and vigor of soybean commercial varieties in Uganda under ambient and cold storage”. He hopes to improve his scientific writing skills, project conceptualization, and implementation skills, and exposure to new knowledge and friends from the AGMCP fellowship. Happy to be mentored by Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi.

Olayemi Grace Oparinde (memorabilia attached) is a graduate of biochemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She is currently undergoing her Masters’s degree program at the same University. Her research interest centers on Genetics, Cancer Biology, and Functional Foods. She has attended a few scientific conferences and has three publications in peer-reviewed journals to her credit. As a recipient of the 2022 AGMCP fellowship, she looks forward to having a strong relationship with professionals who will facilitate her desire to learn from academic giants who have made waves in the field of science, especially biochemistry. This she believes will help to broaden her laboratory research skills, critical thinking and science communication skills, and the act of translational research and uptake. Olayemi is being mentored by Prof. Oyeronke Odunola.

Fiston Masudi Tambwe (memorabilia attached) a Congolese (DRC) by citizenship, pursuing his master’s in plant breeding and Seed Systems at Makerere University in Uganda. Before he left his country, He has been working as a Crop Development Consultant for the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) under its Harvest Plus program where he oversaw research on biofortified crops (maize and beans), and he was following up on maize and beans basic seed production. His research interest is in Maize biofortification, Quantitative genetics, Tropical Agriculture, and Bioinformatics. Masudi is being mentored by Dr. Ayodeji Abe.

Eunice Nimo (memorabilia attached) is a Ghanaian studying MSc. Agroforestry and Food Security at Bangor University, Wales. She previously served as a teaching and research assistant in the department of Agroforestry, at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her research interest has been in cocoa productivity, carbon storage, and climate change. She is expecting to learn first-hand skills from the fellowship, create a network and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. Eunice is being mentored by Dr. Adejoke Akinyele.

Denis Okova (memorabilia attached) is studying Master of Public Health (Health Economics) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Before enrolling for graduate studies, he completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at Kenyatta University, Kenya. He has worked in Kenya both as a private and public sector pharmacist. His research interests include; HIV/AIDS, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS), Health Financing, Equity in Health, Social Determinants of Health, and Market Access to Pharmaceuticals. Denis hopes to broaden his research capabilities and create valuable networks. He is mentored by Ms. Clare Kyomuhendo

Godswill Kweku Sedoe Kwashie (memorabilia attached) is a Ghanaian studying MPhil. Agroforestry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He previously served as a Research Assistant at the Bureau for Integrated Rural Development, BIRD-KNUST. His research interest has been on Cocoa production, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Climate change.  He is expecting to gain more Knowledge and skills in research publications and create a network through the fellowship. Happy to be mentored by Prof. Ismail O. Azeez.

Cindy Yaa Gyeniaw (memorabilia attached) is a Ghanaian. She is currently studying MPhil. Environmental Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana. She previously worked as a teaching assistant at the Department of Agroforestry at KNUST. Her interest has been on the determination of pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater. She is expecting to gain more knowledge on research and create a network with other people from diverse backgrounds. Her mentor is Prof. Antony Kola-Olusanya.

Jacinta Onyinyechukwu Okonkwo (memorabilia attached) hails from Adazi-Nnnukwu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. She graduated from Enugu State University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. She is currently a Master of Science student at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She is majoring in Biochemistry with a focus on Enzymology. The Federal Government of Nigeria sponsors her Master’s Programme. Her research focuses on the Characterization and Purification of phenol-degradable enzymes from a non-edible wild plant that can be used for phenol bioremediation in oil and gas effluents. She expects to receive first-hand knowledge that will continuously drive her desire to pursue research with the ultimate goal of saving lives and sustaining the environment. She is mentored by Dr. Oluwafemi Molehin.

Gospel Adewale ADEGOKE (memorabilia attached) is a Nigerian studying for a Master’s Degree in Science in Animal Ecology and Environmental Biology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He has worked as an intern at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (2018), where he experienced modern practices and procedures of research in the biochemistry and nutrition department. His research interest centres on wildlife conservation, animal ecology, and environmental biology. He is particularly interested in the impact of anthropocentric activities and environmental conditions on variations in animals’ biology, ecology, and conservation. His current postgraduate research focuses on the neurobiological and behavioural implications of exposure to sunlight (specifically ultraviolet and infrared light) on animals. As a 2021 AGCMP fellow, he desires to gain more interest, knowledge, experience, and guidance about academics, research skills, and methods in his research field via accurate mentorship. He is mentored by Dr. Richard Omidiwura.

Abraham Oluwalana Nkumah (memorabilia attached) is a Nigerian. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His research interest is in the area of Drug Discovery and Development. Abraham hopes to connect with professionals and experts in the field of drug discovery that will help him in his chosen career. He hopes to avail himself of the opportunity to interact and develop collaboration with leading scientists in the field of drug discovery. He is being mentored by Dr. Ebenezer Ajayi.

Achiri Herman Fombu (memorabilia attached) is a Cameroonian studying for his MSc in Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He finds so much interest in Biomass and Biofuel (Renewable Energy). His MSc project was based on the production of biodiesel from the combination of cashew nut shells with polystyrene. He expects mentorship from the fellowship that will help him achieve his vision of making Africa a home for clean and sustainable energy. Achiri Fombu is mentored by Dr. Olawale Olayide.