Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor, Professor Tebello Nyokong, was awarded an African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award (AUKNSA) last Saturday (30 January). At a ceremony that took place at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Professor Nyokong was awarded a Continental Award which comes with prize money of US$100 000.
Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor, Professor Tebello Nyokong, was awarded an African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award (AUKNSA) last Saturday (30 January). At a ceremony that took place at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Professor Nyokong was awarded a Continental Award which comes with prize money of US$100 000.
The award was inspired by the fact that Professor Nyokong’s research contributes significantly to areas of social and economic importance to Africa and the world, and has made her an international name in scientific circles. She has been responsible for strides made towards the effective treatment of cancer, through her contributions to photodynamic therapy, and she has contributed influentially to the fabrication of sensors for various environmentally, biologically and medically important molecules.
Her research outputs are considered amongst the highest of any individual on the continent, and her contribution to the scholarly reputation of African scholarship is immense.
Commenting on the accolade she said, "To be recognized by the AU is an honour. The award ceremony was during the opening session of the AU Summit, where African heads of state were present. It was an honour to receive an award in front of all of them. The award also shows the world that African science is at the forefront".
She says she doesn't yet know what the prize money will go towards but says that one important thing the award will do is to raise the profile of her work – and that of Rhodes generally – in Africa.
"Research at Rhodes is of a high standard and is globally recognised, but I am not sure how much the African continent knows what we do. This award will be my gateway to the rest of the continent."
The aim is that photo-dynamic therapy becomes a viable alternative to chemotherapy. The new therapy is based on using the dye which is used to colour blue denim clothing, and which is inert and harmless by itself but can be activated by exposure to a red laser beam.
The system, which has been approved in some countries, reportedly does not destroy hair or healthy cells or cause nausea. The treatment has the potential to be widely used in remote areas of the continent.
Currently, however, there can be quite serious side effects – including the necessity to stay out of the sun – difficult on a continent such as this. The professor and her team are working to reduce these and other side effects and eventually introduce the treatment into the main stream.
Cancer is on the increase in Africa. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), by 2020 African states will account for more than a million new cancer cases per year out of a total of 16 million cases worldwide. The continent is also less well set up for screening procedures, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer than the more developed world.
Professor Nyokong is not only an outstanding scientist in her own right, she is especially well-known for her mentoring and development of other young scientists.
The large number of PhD and MSc theses awarded under her supervision represents students from a very broad range of cultural backgrounds, notably a high proportion from disadvantaged backgrounds and women.
An impressively high number of her MSc students have achieved distinctions. She has also been extensively involved in assisting staff and students from less advantaged universities.
Through her international reputation, Professor Nyokong has contributed significantly to enhancing the reputation of African sciences. She has undertaken formal international collaborations with counterparts in France, Russia, China, UK, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Chiles and has been awarded a prestigious Adjunct Professorship by the University of Tromso in Norway. Many international scientists have been drawn by her work to visit South Africa and her laboratory at Rhodes University, and she has hosted post-doctoral candidates from around the world.
The AUKNSA awards started out as the “African Union Scientific Awards (AUSA) which were established by the African Union Commission in 2008.
This was later renamed the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards (AUKNSA) in 2010. The objectives of the awards are to award and honour outstanding African Scientists for their scientific achievements and discoveries and to promote scientific development in Africa through recognition and excellence among African scientists.
They also aim to popularize and promote public understanding and participation in the implementation of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) and AU Assembly decisions on science and technology and to raise the profile of science and technology sector in African Union Member States.
