The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has honoured one of its staff members, Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, as the 2025 Africa Food Prize Laureate, for her groundbreaking work in cassava and yam seed systems.

Diebiru-Ojo, a scientist, adopted the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics technology.

Simeon Ehui, director-general of IITA, stated at a news conference in Abuja that the celebration marked a landmark achievement in African agricultural innovation.

Mary Abukutsa-Onyango from Kenya and Ms Diebiru-Ojo from Nigeria emerged as the winners of the 2025 Africa Food Prize at the recently held Africa Food System Forum in Dakar.

According to him, the conference aims to provide the media with an opportunity to engage with the African laureate, key stakeholders, and explore the impact of SAH on food security, as well as highlight the role of African-led science in transforming agriculture.

Mr Ehui said that the opportunity would help amplify the story of African innovation and the transformative power of agricultural research.

“The prize, regarded as the continent’s foremost recognition for agricultural innovation, carries a $100,000 award split between the two honourees,” said Mr Ehui. “Diebiru-Ojo leadership has been pivotal in advancing SAH to cultivate cassava and yams, which are two of Africa’s important staples.’’

He identified SAH as a clean, nursery-based method that rapidly multiplies disease-free plants at scale, thereby lowering and shortening the time to field and streamlining the seed system end-to-end.

He further stated that SAH, as a breakthrough approach, was currently being deployed with partners to move and improve varieties faster and more reliably to farmers.

He said the award was important to Africa due to the speed and impact of SAH.

Mr Ehui said that beyond her research and system work at IITA, Ms Diebiru-Ojo has championed early-generation seed enterprises and partnerships that have made quality multi-materials available on time, in volume, and at an affordable price to farmers.

He said the prize committee’s decision to honour two women innovators this year was a powerful message about the future IITA is building.

Mr Ehui, who commended the National Root Crop Research Institute and others for their research development and production, pledged that the SAH technology would be scaled up in turmeric, ginger, and sweet potato, among others.

According to him, this is an opportunity to expand collaboration between IITA and other research institutes or centers that work on roots and tuber crops, such as seed.

Ms Diebiru-Ojo thanked the IITA boss for providing her with the opportunity to attain the exalted position. She dedicated the award to the institute, the country, and the continent, describing it as a win for all.

(NAN)