Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Announces the Winners of its First Students Innovation Research Awards

PRESS RELEASE

 

Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Announces the Winners of its First Students Innovation Research Awards

Accra, Ghana (November 23, 2022) – The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project is pleased to announce the winners of its maiden Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA). Established by the Regional Facilitation Unit for ACE Impact, the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, the award recognizes and promotes excellent research and innovation with both scientific and societal value, that responds to Africa’s developmental challenges.

Four Hundred and Twenty-Eight (428) applications were received from ACE Impact students in the 11 participating countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo) since the announcement of the call for applications in September 2022. The first round of the transparent and fair review process, guided by the award’s stipulated criteria led to the selection of 65 eligible student research for the next round of review. Following the initial screening, an independent committee of experts representing the five thematic disciplines (Agriculture, Applied Social Sciences/ Education, Environment, Health, STEM) of ACE Impact Project thoroughly assessed each submission. Subsequently, 15 research projects (three from each thematic discipline) were selected for the awards. It is worthy to note that seven (7) out of the fifteen (15) projects were led by women.

The selected awardees received a cash grant between $2000-$4000 each (summing up to a total of $50,000 cash prize) and certificates of research excellence. The awards were presented at the closing ceremony of the 8th ACE Impact Regional Workshop held in Gambia from 14th -18th November 2022.

The Students Innovation and Research Awards (SIRA) is focusing on students to boost their interest in implementing the skills and knowledge acquired and aims at driving national and regional development through research.

Below is the list of awardees.

                                 AGRICULTURE
Name Centre Research Topic Position
Ms. Gouegni Edwige Flore Center for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria Immunogenic Potentials of Trypanosoma Congolense Flagellar Pocket Membrane Bound Acid Phosphatase 1st
Mr. Magangi Wilfred Abincha West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana Breeding Investigations to Support Cassava Biofortification through Genomics, Phenomics and Bioinformatics 2nd
Mr. Krampah Eric Appiah Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECOR), University of Cape Coast, Ghana Laboratory rearing of mangrove oyster (Crassostrea tulipa) larvae on local microalgae isolates 2nd
                                                      ENVIRONMENT
Ms. DJASSOU Adjoavi Colette

 

Valorisation des Dechets en Produits a Haute Valeur Ajoutee (CEA-VALOPRO), Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny Cote d’Ivoire Elaboration d’éco matériaux pour la construction à partir de béton incorporant des granulats de pneus usagés.

 

1st (Tie)
Ms. OUEDRAOGO Habibou

 

Co-Researchers: Dr. SORE Seick Omar; Dr. NSHIMIYIMANA Philbert

 

Collège d’Ingénerie: Institut International de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Burkina Faso Durabilité des briques en terre comprimées stabilisées aux géopolymères

 

1st (Tie)
Ms. Maduka Chinonye Medline Center for Oilfield Chemicals Research (CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria The use of organics to formulate brake fluid 3rd
                                                            HEALTH
Ms. YONGOIKYO KUMAWUESE ABIGAIL Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Nigeria Formulation of Infant Food with Fortified Mango Fruit Flour 1st
Dr. TRAORE/MAïGA Safiatou

 

Centre de Formation, de Recherche et d’Expertises en Sciences du Medicament, Burkina Faso

 

Developpement D’une Creme A Base De Miel Et De Beurre De Karite Du Burkina Faso Pour Le Traitement Des Brulures Cutanees

 

2nd
Mr. Aliyu Mukhtar Centre Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Nigeria Prevalence of Microsporidia In Association With Plasmodium Falciparum and Wuchereria Bancrofti in Anopheles Gambiae Within Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Samaru Campus) 3rd
                                                          STEM
Mr. OZOUDE CHINEMEREM JERRY

 

Co-Researchers: Mr BASI KINGSLEY JOB

 

Centre for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nusukka, Nigeria Design, optimization, and fabrication of perovskite solar cells for low-cost manufacturing of solar panels in Africa

 

1st
Ms. Iji Juliana Omonya

 

Ms Uzochukwu Maryann Ifeoma; Ms      Odili Cynthia Ujuh

 

Nigeria Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2nd (Tie)
: Mr. DIALLO Al Hassim

 

Centre of Excellence for Mathematics, Info,atics and ICT(CEA-MITIC), Senegal Un système d’information hospitalier intégré pour le dépistage et le suivi de la drépanocytose 2nd (Tie)

 

For further enquiries related to the Awards, please contact:

For media related enquiries contact:

Millicent Kyei via makyei@aau.org

About SIRA

The Students Innovative Research Awards (SIRA) is an initiative of the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, to deepen the project’s commitment to advancing the production of innovative and impactful knowledge. As the ACE Impact project aims to advance the quality, quantity, and access to post-graduate education within the region, through this award scheme, the project is recognizing exceptional research with both scientific and societal value undertaken by students from the 53 African Centres of Excellence.

Visit https://sira.aau.org/ for more information on SIRA

Photos of the award recipients

PRESS RELEASE: ACE Impact Launches its First Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA)

For Immediate Release

Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) to Reward Quality, Applied Research and Innovation
ACE Impact Launches its First Students Innovation Research Awards (SIRA)

Accra, Ghana, September 15, 2022. The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project is announcing a call for applicants for its first Students Innovative Research Awards (SIRA). SIRA recognizes and promotes excellent research and innovation which responds to Africa’s developmental challenges. Established by the Regional Facilitation Unit for ACE Impact, the Association of African Universities (AAU), with support from the World Bank, SIRA deepen the project’s commitment to advancing the production of innovative and impactful knowledge

The ACE Impact project aims to advance the quality, quantity, and access to post-graduate education within the region.

Through this award scheme, the project will recognise exceptional research with both scientific and societal value undertaken by students from the 53 African Centres of Excellence. The practical and long-term impact of the research conducted is essential to the region’s most critical priority areas. Students are at the heart of this project. As primary ambassadors, SIRA targets students to boost their interest in implementing the skills and knowledge acquired to drive national and regional development and growth. Submissions are accepted under the following thematic areas; health, power generation, and transmission, renewable energy, mining and extractives, sustainable urban planning and transport, sustainable agriculture, environmental sciences, education, and information
and communication technology (ICT). For each thematic area, three awards (1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place) will be presented.

Industry and development partners with an aligned vision to support and improve the next generation of Africa’s highly skilled workforce through mentorship, hands-on training, and funding, among other kinds of support, are invited to collaborate on the SIRA initiative.

Application Details: Only students enrolled in the 53 centres of excellence under the ACE Impact Project are qualified to make a submission under this award. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit https://sira.ace.aau.org/ for further information.

Application Deadline: 30th September 2022

Contact

For further enquiries related to the Awards, please contact:

  • Mr. Schneineda Ankomah via email skankomah@aau.org
  • Mr. Enoch Kpani via email tekpani@aau.org

For Enquiries by the Media, please contact:

  • Mrs. Millicent Afriyie via email makyei@aau.org

For Partnership related information, please contact:

  • Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire vía email smkandawire@aau.org

 

Background Information

The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project is a World Bank initiative in collaboration with governments of participating countries to support Higher Education Institutions specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture and Health. Environment, and Social/Applied Science and Education. It is the first World Bank project aimed at the capacity building of higher education institutions in Africa.

The project promotes increased specialization among participating universities, focusing on addressing specific common regional development challenges. It aims to strengthen the capacities of these universities to deliver high-quality training and applied research, closing the skills gap, and meeting the demand required for for Africa’s development. The first phase (ACE I) was launched in 2014 with 22 Centres of Excellence in Nine (9) West and Central African countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. The second phase (ACE II) was launched in East and Southern Africa with 24 centers across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Based on the initial successes, the World Bank Group and the French Development Agency (AFD) in collaboration with the African governments, launched the ACE Impact Project in 2019 to further strengthen post-graduate training and applied research in existing fields and support new fields that are essential for Africa’s economic growth. There are 53 ACEs specializing in the broad thematic areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture, Health, Environment, and Social/Applied Science and Education with a priority focus in sustainable cities; sustainable power and energy; social sciences and education; transport; population health and policy; herbal medicine development and regulatory sciences; public health; applied informatics and communication; pastoral production; entrepreneurship and innovation, among others.

Since its inception, more than 22,000 students have been enrolled under the ACE Impact project. This includes almost 3,000 PhD students, close to 10,000 MSc students, and over 10,000 students enrolled in professional short courses. As a regional initiative, student enrolment extends beyond the participating countries to other African countries including Burundi, and Gabon, among others. In line training and research global standards, the majority of programmed rolled out by the centres are internationally accredited and centres are provided with enabling teaching, learning, and research environment and facilities, including state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories.

For more information on the ACE Impact Project, visit https://ace.aau.org

About Organizers

About the Association of African Universities (AAU): The Association of African Universities is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization created by African Universities to promote cooperation and collaboration amongst the universities, whilst simultaneously building a bridge to the international academic community. Created in 1967, the AAU is the voice of higher education in Africa. AAU aims to improve the quality of African higher education and strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development. Through supporting core functions of higher education institutions, AAU facilitates critical reflection and consensus, building on issues affecting higher education in Africa. The AAU is the Regional Facilitation Unit of the Africa Centres of Excellence project.

About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group is a multilateral development institution that works to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity. Its subsidiary IDA (International Development Association) finances the Africa Centres of Excellence series of projects. Established in 1960, IDA helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa

Contact: smkandawire@aau.org | Association of African Universities | P. O. Box AN 5744,
Accra-North, Ghana | Tel +233-547-728975 All Rights Reserved © 2022