The Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), Prof. Eric YirenkyiDanquah was yesterday adjudged the winner of this year’s Africa Food Prize.
He was honoured at the 12th annual summit of the Africa Green Revolution Forum held under the theme “Grow, Nourish, Reward-Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems,” in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Africa Food Prize is an annual award that recognises outstanding individuals or institutions who are instigating change in the agricultural sector in Africa.
President, Africa Food Prize Committee, OlusegunObasanjosaid it was a privilege to honour and shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of Prof.Danquah.
“His leadership in genetic innovation inspires the future of food security and nutrition in Africa, and has made a tangible difference to how a new generation is working to improve African food systems,” he added.
Mr Obasanjo indicated that Prof. Danquah had been and continues to be a true inspiration for many young minds.
“On behalf of the African Food Prize Committee, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations andappreciation for his continuing endeavors” he added.
Prof.Danquah said the award had recognised the work done in training crop researchers at the centre.
“The time is now for more first-class science by Africans in collaboration with global partners to change the narrative on our agriculture. Without genetic innovation driven by good science our vision for resilient food systems will tarry,” he added.
The Africa Food Prize puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across thecontinent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.
The Prize Committee considers innovators’ contribution to reducing poverty and hunger and/or improving food and nutrition security in measurable terms and contribution to providing a vital source of income and/or employment in measurable terms.
The committee also looks at the potential for transformative change through scalability, replication, and sustainability as well as the increased awareness and cooperation among African audiences and organizations.
The WACCI, a World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE), was established in 2007 through a partnership between the University of Ghana(UG) and Cornell University with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa(AGRA) to train plant breeders at the PhD level at the University of Ghana.
In 2015, under the ACE project, WACCI introduced an innovative MPhil programme in SeedScience and Technology to address the challenges facing the seed sector in Africa.
Currently, the Centre has enrolled 160 PhD and 80 MPhil students from 20 African countries.WACCI has over the years transitioned from a single donor to a multi-donor funded institution with over US$ 40million of committed funds.
BY TIMES REPORTER
