The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has honoured Nigerian scientist Mercy Diebiru-Ojo with the prestigious 2025 Africa Food Prize for her groundbreaking work in cassava and yam seed systems. The announcement was made at the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Dakar, where Diebiru-Ojo and Kenyan scholar Mary Abukutsa-Onyango were named laureates of the continent’s most respected agricultural award.
The Africa Food Prize, widely regarded as the highest recognition for agricultural innovation on the continent, comes with a $100,000 award shared between the two honourees. Diebiru-Ojo was celebrated for her pioneering application of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH), a clean, nursery-based technology that multiplies disease-free cassava and yam plants at scale, reducing time to field and improving food security across Africa.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, IITA Director-General Simeon Ehui described the recognition as a landmark achievement for African-led science and a turning point in the continent’s agricultural transformation. He noted that Diebiru-Ojo’s leadership in advancing SAH has provided smallholder farmers with faster access to quality planting materials, boosting productivity for two of Africa’s most important staple crops.
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Ehui highlighted that SAH technology is already being deployed with partners to improve varieties more quickly and reliably. Plans are also underway to expand its use in other crops such as turmeric, ginger, and sweet potato. “The speed and impact of SAH make this innovation one of Africa’s most important breakthroughs in modern agriculture,” he said.
Beyond her research, Diebiru-Ojo has been instrumental in building seed enterprises and partnerships that ensure farmers receive clean planting materials in large volumes and at affordable prices. Her efforts, according to Ehui, underscore the transformative power of science when driven by African innovators.
The prize committee’s choice of two women laureates this year was described as a bold statement on the role of women in shaping Africa’s food future. Ehui also praised the National Root Crop Research Institute and other institutions for their contributions to research and production in root and tuber crops.
In her acceptance remarks, Diebiru-Ojo expressed gratitude to IITA for providing her the platform to thrive. She dedicated the award to the institute, Nigeria, and the African continent, describing the recognition as “a win for all.”
