African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence

African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence
First award	2008
Website	African Union

The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence was established by the African Union (AU) to recognize and honor outstanding scientific achievements in Africa. These awards were named after Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and a prominent Pan-Africanist, who strongly believed in the importance of science and technology for the development of Africa. It is the highest recognition for science in Africa. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

The awards aim to recognize and celebrate scientific achievements, promote science and innovation in Africa and inspire the next generation of African scientists. They were established in September 2008. ^[1]

The Kwame Nkrumah Awards are awarded in two categories: Life and Earth Sciences and Basic Science, Technology and Innovation. ^{[1] [6]}

Nominees are typically selected based on their achievements in advancing scientific knowledge, addressing African challenges, and their contributions to the scientific community at large. The awardees are often recognized during AU summits, where they are presented with both a monetary award and a certificate of recognition. ^[1]

The awards aim to showcase the talent and intellectual contributions of African scientists and play a role in the continent's development by encouraging continued advancements in science and technology.

There are 3 types of awards: At the continental level for general scientists, at the regional level for women scientists and at the national level for young scientists. ^[1]

The highest level is the Continental award which consists of a cash Prize of USD $100,000, a medal and a certificate. ^{[7] [3] [8]}

Award recipients at the continental level

Basic Science, Technology and Innovation

• 2011: Oluwole Daniel Makinde (Nigeria) ^[9]
• 2012: Nabil A. Ibrahim (Egypt) ^[10]
• 2014: Timoleon Crepin Kofane (Cameroon) ^[11]
• 2015: Tebello Nyokong (South Africa) ^{[7] [12] [13] [14]}
• 2016: Ali Ali Hebeish (Egypt) ^[15]
• 2017: Malik Maaza (Algeria) ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]}
• 2018: Obada Abdel Shafy (Egypt) ^{[20] [21] [22]}
• 2019: Ahmed Mohammed Alsabagh (Egypt) ^[23]
• 2020: Salah Obaya (Egypt) ^{[2] [24]}

Life and Earth Sciences

• 2012: Michael John Wingfield (South Africa) ^[10]
• 2014: Salim Abdool Karim (South Africa) ^[11]
• 2015: Umezuruike Linus Opara (Nigeria) ^{[7] [13] [14]}
• 2016: Felix Dapare Dakora (Ghana) ^[15]
• 2017: Robert Peter Millar (South Africa) ^{[16] [17] [18]}
• 2018: David Mark Richardson (South Africa) ^{[20] [5] [22]}
• 2019: Chedly Abdelly (Tunisia) ^[23]
• 2020: Abraham Aseffa (Ethiopia) ^{[6] [24]}

Award recipients at the regional level

This level is awarded to scientist women only.

Life and Earth Sciences category

• 2010: Salimata Wade (Senegal) ^[25]
• 2011: Mireille Dosso (Comoros / Ivory Coast) ^[25]
• 2012: Matilda Steiner-Asiedu (Ghana) ^[25]
• 2013: Adolé Glitho-Akueson (Togo) ^{[25] [26] [27]}
• 2014: Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi (Ghana) ^[25]
• 2015: Northern Region: Hafida Merzouk (Algeria) ^{[28] [29]}
• 2020: ^[24]
  • Western Region: Philippa C. Ojimelukwe (Nigeria)
  • Eastern Region: Hulda Swai (Tanzania)
  • Northern Region: Elham Mahmoud (Egypt)

Basic Science, Technology and Innovation category

• 2010: Geneviève Barro  [ fr ] (Burkina Faso) ^[30]
• 2011: Rita Kakou-Yao (Ivory Coast) ^[25]
• 2013: ^{[26] [27]}
  • Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa) ^[31]
  • Yvonne Bonzi-Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) ^[25]
• 2015: Eastern Region: Yalemtsehay Mekonnen (Ethiopia) ^{[28] [29]}
• 2020: ^[24]
  • Northern Region: Fakiha Heakal (Egypt)
  • Western Region: Ibiyinka A. Fuwape (Nigeria) ^[32]

See also

• Science portal

• List of general science and technology awards

References

1. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) Continental Award 2017 Edition". Union africaine (in French). 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
2. "Egyptian Scientists Win African Union Kwame Nkrumah Science Awards". CairoScene. 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
3. Czerniak, Brad. "AGLI". African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
4. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE)". ncst.mw. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
5. "African Union recognises world leader in invasion biology with Kwame Nkrumah award". EurekAlert!. 2019-02-10. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
6. "Dr Abraham Aseffa Is Honored With The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award For Scientific Excellence – Armauer Hansen Research Institute". Armauer Hansen Research Institute – https. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
7. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards: Laureates for the Continental Awards 2015 Edition" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-03-25.
8. Network, ACT (2020-09-30). "The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE)". ACT Network. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
9. "Prof. Oluwole Daniel Makinde". 10th Pan African Congress of Mathematicians (PACOM 2022). Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
10. "Winners of the 2012 Edition of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards". African Union. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
11. "Two African Scientists Awarded the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards 2014 Edition". African Union. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
12. "Legendary scientist inspires black excellence". Rhodes University. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
13. "Message of H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, during the AU Kwame Nkrumah Award, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 January 2016". African Union. 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
14. "Stellenbosch pomegranate researcher honoured with African Union Science Prize". Stellenbosch University Home. 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
15. "2016 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Science Awards presented to winners during the 28th AU Summit". African Union (in Spanish). 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
16. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards (AUKNASE) 2017 EDITION". African Union. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
17. "Algerian, South African scientists scoop AU accolades". Hiiraan Online. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
18. "African scientists awarded the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards by the African Union with the support of the EU". EEAS. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
19. "IAS : Professor Malik Maaza FIAS received the African Union prize of scientific excellence: Kwame Nkrumah 2017". EBASI. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
20. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards 2018". African Union (in Arabic). 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
21. "Sisi stresses joint efforts at AU summit closing session". EgyptToday. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
22. "African leaders wrap up summit". Anadolu Ajansı. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
23. "Africa's Top Scientists Awarded the Prestigious African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) 2019 Edition". African Union. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
24. "Choreography of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award for Scientific Excellence Award Ceremony 2020 Edition" (PDF). nm-aist.ac.tz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
25. "African Union regional awards for scientific women "Kwame N'krumah" | Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS)". Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
26. "Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer / Science Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-03-28.
27. "Press Release" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-03-28.
28. "Laureates for the Regional Awards for women 2015 Edition" (PDF). African Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
29. "African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards 2015 Edition". African Union. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
30. "Pr Geneviève BARRO,première femme Maître de conférences de mathématiques du Burkina - leFaso.net". lefaso.net (in French). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
31. "Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim receives African Union Scientific Award" (PDF). 2013. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
32. "FUTA's Fuwape wins AU scientific award". PMNews Nigeria. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2025-03-28.

External links

• Official website