JR Biotek Awards Honour a Decade of Partnership, Service and Excellence in African Science
By JR Biotek Foundation , 5 April 2025
For ten years, JR Biotek Foundation’s work has been built not only through programmes, but through people, scientists who mentor others, institutions that open their laboratories and networks, volunteers who give their time, and partners who believe that strengthening African science can transform lives and food systems.
On 27 March 2025, JR Biotek Foundation brought some of those remarkable people and institutions together at the University of Cambridge for the inaugural JR Biotek Awards, recognising a decade of partnership, mentorship, service and scientific leadership.
The awards formed part of Roots of Resilience: A Decade of Innovation & Impact, JR Biotek Foundation’s tenth-anniversary celebration, which reflected on the organisation’s journey since 2015 and looked ahead to its next chapter.
“This celebration is about more than recognising individual contributions. It is about honouring a collective movement, a movement rooted in mentorship, equity and the belief that African scientists have an essential role to play in building a resilient and food-secure future for our continent.” — Dr Carol Ibe, Founder & Executive Director, JR Biotek Foundation
Celebrating the relationships behind the impact
Since its founding in 2015, JR Biotek Foundation has worked with scientists, universities, research institutes, mentors and volunteers across Africa and internationally to expand access to scientific training, mentorship and research opportunities.
Many of these relationships have grown over years. Some partners have opened their institutions to our programmes. Others have helped mobilise funding, provided laboratory facilities and technical expertise, mentored emerging scientists, built programmes alongside us or quietly worked behind the scenes to turn ambitious ideas into reality.
The 2025 JR Biotek Awards were created to say something simple but important: We see you. We value what you have contributed, and this journey would not have been possible without you.
Excellence in Partnership Award
The CSIR–Crops Research Institute, Ghana, and Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Nigeria, received the Excellence in Partnership Award. Both institutions have played important roles in JR Biotek Foundation’s work to strengthen scientific capacity and connect researchers across institutions and countries. Their recognition celebrated what becomes possible when partnerships go beyond institutional agreements and develop into long-term relationships built around shared purpose.
“Through visionary collaboration and an unwavering commitment to impact, these institutions have enabled JR Biotek and our partners to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen scientific capacity and empower Africa’s next generation of agricultural scientists.”
Outstanding Collaborator Award
Dr Ruth Prempeh of Ghana, Dr Kabir M. Umar of Nigeria and Dr Anthony Mabele of Kenya were recognised with the Outstanding Collaborator Award.
Their contributions represent the kind of locally rooted scientific leadership that has been fundamental to JR Biotek Foundation’s approach: leaders who understand their institutions and communities and are willing to create opportunities for others.
Through collaboration, mentorship and programme delivery, they have helped create environments in which emerging scientists can learn, connect and grow.
“Your tireless efforts have created a nurturing platform for aspiring scientists to thrive. The legacy of your mentorship and collaborative spirit will continue to resonate for generations.”
Photo: Dr Kabir Mustapha Umar (Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria) receiving institutional and individual awards presented by Professor Chagunda.
Institutional Gratitude Award
JR Biotek Foundation presented a Certificate of Appreciation – Institutional Gratitude Award to the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
The Department has provided expertise, resources and institutional support that have contributed significantly to the Foundation’s Africa-focused scientific capacity-building activities. The award recognised not simply institutional association, but years of practical support that helped make ambitious programmes possible.
A lifetime of contribution: Professor John P. Carr
One of the evening’s particularly significant recognitions was the Lifetime Contribution Award – Individual Gratitude Award, presented to Professor John P. Carr, Head of the Virology & Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge.
Professor Carr’s contribution to JR Biotek Foundation extends across scientific, technical and practical support. Over the years, he has supported fundraising efforts, helped develop collaborative projects, provided laboratory and technical support and consistently advocated for the Foundation’s work and the scientists it serves. His contribution illustrates something central to JR Biotek Foundation’s story: transformative partnerships are often built through people who repeatedly choose to open doors for others.
“Professor Carr, your generous spirit, insightful guidance and relentless advocacy have opened doors for hundreds of African scientists. Your legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of our work.”
Photo: Professor John P. Carr receiving the Institutional Gratitude Award on behalf of the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, alongside his Lifetime Contribution Award recognising his longstanding support and contribution to JR Biotek Foundation.
Recognising the next generation of mentors
The Awards also celebrated scientists who are carrying forward a culture of mentorship and service.
Ruth Nanjala, Founder of My Science Journey, PhD Scholar at the University of Oxford and mentee of the Carol & Noor African Bioscience Mentorship Programme, received the Science Mentorship Impact Award – Emerging Mentorship Leader.
Her recognition celebrated a new generation of African scientists who understand that scientific leadership is not only about individual achievement, but also about making the journey more accessible to those coming behind them.
“Through your authentic storytelling and commitment to uplifting others, you are redefining science as not just knowledge, but identity, resilience and hope.”
Dr Velma Okaron, a plant breeder from Makerere University in Uganda, received the Catalyst for Change Award – Emerging Mentorship Leader.
Her work supporting the planning and delivery of mentorship activities has helped build connections between scientists across countries and disciplines.
“Your tireless dedication has built vital bridges across borders and disciplines. You continue to light the way for young scientists seeking connection, excellence and opportunity.”
Photo: Ruth Nanjala, Founder of My Science Journey, PhD Scholar at the University of Oxford and alumna of the Carol & Noor African Bioscience Mentorship Programme, receiving the Science Mentorship Impact Award – Emerging Mentorship Leader in recognition of her commitment to supporting and mentoring the next generation of African scientists.
Leadership that helps ideas become institutions
Dr Rebekah Sacher received the Board Leadership & Commitment Award – Strategic Governance and Visionary Support.
The award recognised her strategic guidance and contribution to JR Biotek Foundation, including her support for the Roots of Resilience initiative and the thinking that would help shape the Foundation’s next phase, including AGRIIP – the Agri-Innovation & Impact Platform.
Her recognition reflected another important part of organisational growth: the people willing to contribute not only to what exists today, but also to help imagine what could exist tomorrow.
Photo: Dr Rebekah Sacher receiving the Board Leadership & Commitment Award in recognition of her strategic guidance and contribution to JR Biotek Foundation’s growth and future direction.
Service that transforms vision into reality
The Exceptional Service & Leadership Award – Commitment to Service & Scientific Impact was presented to Dr Jacob Ulzen and Dr Olaide Ogunsanya.
Their recognition celebrated a quality that has sustained JR Biotek Foundation throughout its first decade: service. Much of the work required to build scientific programmes, partnerships and communities happens away from public view. It requires people willing to organise, coordinate, solve problems, support colleagues and keep going when resources are limited.
“You gave not only your time and talent, but your heart. Through your quiet, selfless service and unwavering commitment, you helped transform vision into reality.”
Photo: Dr Olaide Ogusanya speaking during the JR Biotek Foundation’s 10-year anniversary celebration and AGRIIP launch.
More than an awards ceremony
The inaugural JR Biotek Awards were ultimately about more than trophies or individual achievements. They were an opportunity to recognise the ecosystem of relationships behind JR Biotek Foundation’s first decade.
Scientific capacity cannot be built by one organisation. It requires institutions willing to collaborate, established scientists willing to mentor, emerging researchers willing to serve others, funders willing to invest, and people willing to contribute expertise, sometimes for years before the full impact of that contribution becomes visible.
That spirit of collaboration has shaped JR Biotek Foundation since 2015 and remains fundamental to the organisation we are becoming.
“We have not merely honoured individuals. We have celebrated a movement—a movement defined by excellence, equity and a shared commitment to building a more just and food-secure Africa.” — Dr Carol Ibe
Honouring the past. Building what comes next.
The tenth anniversary was both a celebration and a transition. After a decade focused strongly on strengthening scientific capacity, JR Biotek Foundation is building on those foundations through AGRIIP, connecting African scientists more directly with farmers, entrepreneurs and institutions to co-create science-backed solutions around indigenous crops, climate resilience and food systems.
Many of the relationships celebrated through the 2025 Awards are part of the foundation upon which this next chapter is being built. And that may be the most important legacy of the evening.
JR Biotek Foundation’s story has never belonged to one person. It belongs to the scientists who shared their knowledge, the institutions that opened their doors, the mentors who created opportunities, the volunteers who served, the partners who believed, and the generations of African scientists who will take that work further.
The first decade showed us what relationships, scientific excellence and shared purpose can build. The next will show us how far that collective effort can go.
