African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence

{{Infobox award

| image = African Union logo.png

| caption =

| name = African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence

| website = {{URL|https://au.int/|African Union}}

| firstawarded = 2008

}}

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.{{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) Continental Award 2017 Edition | website=Union africaine | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/fr/node/32804 | language=fr | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | last=Czerniak | first=Brad | title=AGLI | website=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award | url=https://www.africangreatlakesinform.org/link/african-union-kwame-nkrumah-scientific-award | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) | website=ncst.mw | date=2019-09-20 | url=https://www.ncst.mw/african-union-kwame-nkrumah-awards-for-scientific-excellence-auknase/ | access-date=2025-03-25}}

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.

The Kwame Nkrumah Awards are awarded in two categories: Life and Earth Sciences and Basic Science, Technology and Innovation.

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.

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.

The highest level is the Continental award which consists of a cash Prize of USD $100,000, a medal and a certificate.{{cite web | last=Network | first=ACT | title=The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) | website=ACT Network | date=2020-09-30 | url=https://act-africa.org/495/african-union-kwame-nkrumah-awards-for-scientific-excellence-auknase/ | access-date=2025-03-25}}

Award recipients at the continental level

=Basic Science, Technology and Innovation=

2011: Oluwole Daniel Makinde (Nigeria){{cite web | title=Prof. Oluwole Daniel Makinde | website=10th Pan African Congress of Mathematicians (PACOM 2022) | url=https://www.pacom2022.com/plenary-lecturers-and-biographies/prof-oluwole-daniel-makinde | access-date=2025-03-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704003917/https://www.pacom2022.com/plenary-lecturers-and-biographies/prof-oluwole-daniel-makinde | archive-date=4 July 2022}}
2012: Nabil A. Ibrahim (Egypt){{cite web | title=Winners of the 2012 Edition of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards | website=African Union | date=2013-03-04 | url=https://au.int/en/newsevents/20130303/winners-2012-edition-african-union-kwame-nkrumah-continental-scientific-awards?utm_source=chatgpt.com | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2014: Timoleon Crepin Kofane (Cameroon){{cite web | title=Two African Scientists Awarded the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards 2014 Edition | website=African Union | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/en/newsevents/20150131/two-african-scientists-awarded-african-union-kwame-nkrumah-continental | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2015: Tebello Nyokong (South Africa){{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards: Laureates for the Continental Awards 2015 Edition | url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/27661-wd-2015_continental-1.pdf | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=Legendary scientist inspires black excellence | website=Rhodes University | date=2017-01-09 | url=https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/archives/2017/legendaryscientistinspiresblackexcellence.html | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=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 | website=African Union | date=2016-01-30 | url=https://au.int/en/speeches/20160130-3 | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2016: Ali Ali Hebeish (Egypt){{cite web | title=2016 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Science Awards presented to winners during the 28th AU Summit | website=African Union | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/es/node/32002 | language=es | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2017: Malik Maaza (Algeria){{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards (AUKNASE) 2017 EDITION | website=African Union | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180129/african-union-kwame-nkrumah-scientific-excellence-awards-auknase-2017-edition | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=Algerian, South African scientists scoop AU accolades | website=Hiiraan Online | date=2018-01-31 | url=https://hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Jan/146543/algerian_south_african_scientists_scoop_au_accolades.aspx | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=African scientists awarded the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards by the African Union with the support of the EU | website=EEAS | date=2018-01-28 | url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/39005_en | access-date=2025-03-28}}{{cite web | title=IAS : Professor Malik Maaza FIAS received the African Union prize of scientific excellence: Kwame Nkrumah 2017 | website=EBASI | date=2018-02-05 | url=https://ebasi.org/Maaza_African%20Union%20Prize_20190222140509/ | access-date=2025-03-28}}
2018: Obada Abdel Shafy (Egypt){{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Excellence Awards 2018 | website=African Union | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/ar/node/36407 | language=ar | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=Sisi stresses joint efforts at AU summit closing session | website=EgyptToday | date=2019-02-11 | url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/64552/Sisi-stresses-joint-efforts-at-AU-summit-closing-session | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=African leaders wrap up summit | website=Anadolu Ajansı | date=2019-02-12 | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/african-leaders-wrap-up-summit/1389841 | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2019: Ahmed Mohammed Alsabagh (Egypt){{cite web | title=Africa’s Top Scientists Awarded the Prestigious African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) 2019 Edition | website=African Union | date=2025-03-17 | url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20200209/africas-top-scientists-awarded-prestigious-african-union-kwame-nkrumah-awards | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2020: Salah Obaya (Egypt){{cite web | title=Egyptian Scientists Win African Union Kwame Nkrumah Science Awards | website=CairoScene | date=2024-12-17 | url=https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egyptian-Scientists-Win-African-Union-Kwame-Nkrumah-Science-Awards | access-date=2025-03-25}}{{cite web | title=Choreography of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award for Scientific Excellence Award Ceremony 2020 Edition | website=nm-aist.ac.tz | url=https://nm-aist.ac.tz/images/docs/Chereography-final-2020-virtual-edition1-00000003-2.pdf | access-date=2025-03-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301045036/https://nm-aist.ac.tz/images/docs/Chereography-final-2020-virtual-edition1-00000003-2.pdf | archive-date= 1 March 2021}}

=Life and Earth Sciences=

2012: Michael John Wingfield (South Africa)
2014: Salim Abdool Karim (South Africa)
2015: Umezuruike Linus Opara (Nigeria){{cite web | title=Stellenbosch pomegranate researcher honoured with African Union Science Prize| website=Stellenbosch University Home | date=2025-03-25 | url=https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3437 | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2016: Felix Dapare Dakora (Ghana)
2017: Robert Peter Millar (South Africa)
2018: David Mark Richardson (South Africa){{cite web | title=African Union recognises world leader in invasion biology with Kwame Nkrumah award | website=EurekAlert! | date=2019-02-10 | url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/648457 | access-date=2025-03-25}}
2019: Chedly Abdelly (Tunisia)
2020: Abraham Aseffa (Ethiopia){{cite web | title=Dr Abraham Aseffa Is Honored With The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award For Scientific Excellence – Armauer Hansen Research Institute | website=Armauer Hansen Research Institute – https | date=2021-03-01 | url=https://ahri.gov.et/2021/03/01/dr-abraham-aseffa-is-honored-with-the-african-union-kwame-nkrumah-continental-award-for-scientific-excellence/ | access-date=2025-03-25}}

Award recipients at the regional level

This level is awarded to scientist women only.

=Life and Earth Sciences category=

2010: Salimata Wade
2011: Mireille Dosso
2012: Matilda Steiner-Asiedu
2013: Adolé Glitho-Akueson (Togo){{cite web | title=Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer / Science Awards | url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/27579-wd-statement_by_dr_abdul-hakim_elwaer_director_human_resources_science_and_technology.pdf | access-date=2025-03-28}}{{cite web | title=Press Release | url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/pressreleases/27579-pr-pr-science_and_technology-_key_for_africas_socio-economic_advancement_.pdf | access-date=2025-03-28}}
2014: Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi{{Cite web|title=African Union regional awards for scientific women "Kwame N'krumah " {{!}} Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) |url=https://www.ecowas.int/african-union-regional-awards-for-scientific-women-kwame-nkrumah/|access-date=2021-03-21|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421223501/https://www.ecowas.int/african-union-regional-awards-for-scientific-women-kwame-nkrumah/|url-status=dead}}
2015: Northern Region: Hafida Merzouk (Algeria){{Cite web |title=Laureates for the Regional Awards for women 2015 Edition |url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/27661-wd-2015_reginal_award-final.pdf |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=African Union}}{{cite web | title=African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards 2015 Edition | website=African Union | url=https://au.int/en/newsevents/20150824/african-union-kwame-nkrumah-scientific-awards-2015-edition | access-date=2025-03-31}}
2020:{{cite web | title=Choreography of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award for Scientific Excellence Award Ceremony 2020 Edition | website=nm-aist.ac.tz | url=https://nm-aist.ac.tz/images/docs/Chereography-final-2020-virtual-edition1-00000003-2.pdf | access-date=2025-03-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301045036/https://nm-aist.ac.tz/images/docs/Chereography-final-2020-virtual-edition1-00000003-2.pdf | archive-date= 1 March 2021}}
Western Region: Philippa C. Ojimelukwe from Nigeria
Eastern Region: Hulda Swai from Tanzania
Northern Region: Elham Mahmoud from Egypt

=Basic Science, Technology and Innovation category=

2010: {{ill|Geneviève Barro|fr}}{{Cite web |title=Pr Geneviève BARRO,première femme Maître de conférences de mathématiques du Burkina - leFaso.net |url=https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article39182 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=lefaso.net |language=fr}}
2011: Rita Kakou-Yao
2013:
Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa){{cite web | title=Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim receives African Union Scientific Award | url=https://www.caprisa.org/DBFile/Files/5d85b1cb-10b5-4f46-b2e2-8c0dda51a80b/December%202013%20Newsletter.pdf | date=2013 | access-date=2025-03-25}}
Yvonne Bonzi-Coulibaly (Burkina Faso)
2015: Eastern Region: Yalemtsehay Mekonnen (Ethiopia)
2020:
Northern Region: Fakiha Heakal (Egypt)
Western Region: Ibiyinka A. Fuwape (Nigeria){{cite web | title= FUTA's Fuwape wins AU scientific award | website=PMNews Nigeria | date=2021-03-03 | url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/03/03/futas-fuwape-wins-au-scientific-award/ | access-date=2025-03-28}}