AUST’S ASSIA ABOUBAKAR, 19 OTHERS WIN 2022 L’Oréal-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA YOUNG TALENTS AWARDS.

Dr. Mahamat Assia Aboubakar (clad in a pink Hijab, 3 rd front
row), a Ph.D holder from the department of Materials Science
and Engineering, African University of Science and
Technology (AUST), Abuja and nineteen other young female
scientists from Africa has won the 2022 L’Oreal- UNESCO for
women in Science Sub-Saharan Young Talents Awards.
She won the post-doctoral fellow award in Engineering
Sciences and Technology with special focus on ‘ The
Development of Eco-friendly construction materials in Sub-
Saharan Africa’ and the award would attract a financial
support of fifteen thousand pounds sterling (€15,000).
Dr. Assia who hails from Chad Republic, is currently lecturing
at the Nile University, Abuja.

The purpose of the Young Talents Awards since inception is to support women scientists in
pursuit of their careers, and more generally to promote and strengthen the role of women in
science as well as offers participants an opportunity to receive comprehensive leadership
training thereby enabling the young talents to break the glass ceiling, becoming new female
role models in science.
In December 2022, the 20 Talents will join the community of 181 female researchers who
have been supported and honored by the Women in Science Young Talents Programme in
Sub-Saharan Africa since its launch in 2010.
The names of the other awardees for the 2022 young talent awards are as
follows:
~ Bibi Nausheen JAFFUR, Ph.D. student in Engineering Sciences and Technology –‘Biopolymer production from plant fibres’ - Mauritius
~ Beauty MAKAMURE, Ph.D. student in Life and Environmental sciences – ‘Whole genome sequencing for detection of TB drug resistance in Zimbabwe’ - Zimbabwe
~ Brenda NAMUMBA, post-doctoral fellow in Physical Sciences – ‘Using SKA Precursor telescopes to unravel the mysteries of the universe’ - Zambia
~ Lovasoa Rina RAHARINAIVO, Ph.D. student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Plastic pollution and more sustainable alternatives in Madagascar’ - Madagascar
~ Bibi Yusra RUHOMALLY, Ph.D. student in Formal Sciences – ‘Modelling illicit drug use dynamics using NERA model’ - Mauritius
~ Nora NGANYEWO, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences –’Genetics and Plasmodium Falciparum invasion in the Gambia’ - Cameroon
~ Julliet KIRUI, PhD student in Physical Sciences – ‘Water quality classification using Ensemble learning and IOT’ - Kenya

~ Geraldin M. W. LENGAI, post-doctoral fellow in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Spices as fungicides for late blight management’ - Kenya
~ Ruth MWANGI, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Biopesticides against the degradation of post-harvest tomatoes’ - Kenya
~ Ange Cynthia UMUHIRE, PhD student in Physical Sciences – ‘Space weather
prediction and forecast in Rwanda’ - Rwanda
~ Bezalem Eshetu YIRDAW, PhD student in Formal Sciences – ‘Modeling child
morbidity using a multi-level Bayesian network’ - Ethiopia
~ Iveren ABIEM, post-doctoral fellow and Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Carbon storage in the Afromontane Forest’ - Nigeria
~ Winifried Ayinpogbilla ATIAH, post-doctoral fellow in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Seasonal flood forecast in Ghana’ - Ghana
~ Farida BOUBE DOBI, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Groundwater resources management in Niger’ - Niger
~ Awa Bousso DRAMÉ, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Coastal
modeling and geospatial sciences in Senegal’ - Senegal
~ Olyvia Gwladys FADEYI, PhD student in Engineering Sciences and Technology –
‘Edible mushroom value chain and rural women's empowerment in Benin’ - Benin
~Adjata KAMARA, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Biopesticide against post-harvest rot of yam - Côte d'Ivoire
~ Oluwatesin OGUNDOLIE (born AKINWALE), Ph.D. student in Formal Sciences – ‘Flood prediction in Nigeria’ - Nigeria
~Mawulolo YOMO, PhD student in Life and Environmental Sciences – ‘Sea water
intrusion dynamics in the Coastal sedimentary Basin of Togo’ - Togo.

The highly elated Acting President of AUST, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS extends
the university’s congratulations to Dr Assia and wished her more laurels in her future research
works.
He urged other female scientists and Engineers to emulate the footsteps of Dr Assia by
participating in international research competitions as they march on in their chosen careers.