Stephanie Angela Achieng’
Resource Mobilization Assistant

Stephanie Angela Achieng’ is a Resource Mobilization Assistant at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), where she supports fundraising and partnership development through donor and partner research, funding opportunity scouting, proposal development coordination, donor pipeline management, and the preparation of resource mobilization intelligence to support strategic partnerships across Africa.

Prior to joining AATF, Stephanie gained experience supporting programme coordination, research, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge management within international development organizations.

She is also a freelance science writer whose work has been published by SciDev.Net and Mongabay, where she writes on science, health, environment, climate change, biodiversity, food systems, innovation, and sustainable development.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Literature, Language, and Communication from the University of Nairobi. She is passionate about resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and science communication..

She is a Kenyan national.

Dr. Roy B. Mugiira
Senior Manager, Program Development

Dr. Roy B. Mugiira is an expert in modern biotechnology development and biosafety regulation with hands-on experience in recombinant gene technology. He holds a Doctorate degree in Molecular Virology from Zhejiang University in China; a Master of Science degree in Plant Pathology and a Bachelor of Science Education degree from Egerton University, Kenya. His doctoral degree research work focused on the molecular diagnosis of plant viral infections and the cloning of viral DNA genomes into gene silencing vectors for application in functional genomics.

Dr. Mugiira has vast experience in policy advisory for the governance of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) generally, and Biotechnology Development specifically. He led the development of Kenya’s Biotechnology Policy and Biosafety regulatory framework for regulating the development and deployment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). He provided technical support to the initiatives of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC) towards regional biotechnology policy harmonization.

Dr. Mugiira served as Kenya’s National Focal Point for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In this role, he participated actively in global negotiations within the context of the Conference of Parties (CoP) and Meeting of Parties (MoP) to the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). He undertook this role as a member of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) that is supported by the African Union – NEPAD.

Prior to joining AATF, Dr. Mugiira served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority, leading in the development, implementation and enforcement of Kenya’s biosafety regulatory framework. Previously, he served as the Director of Research, Ministry of Education, Kenya and Director, Scheduled Sciences at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).

As the Senior Manager, Program Development at AATF, Dr. Mugiira is responsible for the coordination of program/project design and implementation within the Directorate of Program Development and Commercialization.

He is a member of the Royal Society of Biologists and has published policy advisory papers on the global governance of modern biotechnology and its potential contribution to Africa’s economic development.

He is a Kenyan national.

Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Dabban Educational Service and also serves as a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Science, Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru.

Dr. Dabban is a member and fellow of several professional bodies, including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the International Research and Development Institute of Nigeria, the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC), the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the Geo-Information Society of Nigeria (GEOSON), the Fellow Corporate Administration Institute of Nigeria (FCAI), and the Fellow Institute of Policy Management Development (FIPMD).

He is a Nigerian National.

Yarama Dakwa Ndirpaya, FASN
 TELA Maize- Program Manager & Nigeria Lead

Ndirpaya is the TELA Maize – Program Manager (Nigeria Lead) at AATF.

He is an Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) expert with many years of experience within the CGIAR System, Africa’s NARS, and the Nigerian National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES).

He holds Master of Science degree from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA, and B.Sc (Agric.) degree from Ahma du Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He was the East Africa Regional Coordinator for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Program (June 2023 – May 2025) from where he joined AATF; and was also the Director- Plant Resources Department of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), an organization that coordinates, supervises and regulates the entire National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Nigeria, before joining TAAT.

Ndirpaya is the immediate past Nigerian Representative and Sub-Saharan Africa Voting Member on the CGIAR System Board and was Member of the CGIAR Strategic Reference Group (SRG) 2017-2019; Member, Executive Advisory Board (EAB) of Africa TELA Maize Project, AATF (2019 – 2023); Member, Governing Boards of National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) of Nigeria; Member, National Variety Release Committee, and National Committee for Registration of Seed Entrepreneurs in Nigeria; and Vice Chairman, ECOWAS SyRiMAO Project, Nigeria National Fruit Fly Management Committee.

He also previously held various positions in reputable organizations, including: Chief Scientific Officer (Crops)- FMARD, Nigeria; Research Associate- ICRISAT-Nigeria; Research Fellow- IITA-Ibadan; Research Assistant at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA; and Adaptive Research Officer- Borno State ADP, Nigeria, where he started his career.

He has published number of academic papers, and is widely travelled. Ndirpaya is the current General Secretary of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), and the Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association (KADA); and is the immediate past General Secretary of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN).

He is a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (FASN) and a Board Member of the Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria (PBAN). Ndirpaya is a Nigerian national.

Solomon Onyeaghalachi Obike
Hybrid Seed Production Officer

Solomon Obike is an Agriculturist, Banker and Extension Specialist with over 12 years’ experience working with farmers in farmers resilience projects through efficient design and implementation of agricultural technology transfer, capacity building programs and inclusive market and trade initiatives that are geared towards improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

He served as consultant in Adamawa State Grassroots Socioeconomic Empowerment project that oversaw the establishment of Farming Skills Acquisition Centers (FSACs) across 21 Area Councils (Counties) and led the team of Agronomists in development of training manuals for the centers.

Under the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Anchor borrowers’ program Solomon worked with Aloha Integrated Services Limited in Imo State and Farm Smart project in Anambra State as Project Manager. He has experience in banking where he worked closely with Agric desk of First City Monument Bank PLC (FCMB)Yola Branch, Adamawa State and led a team that successfully onboarded about two thousand unbanked farmers on the formal banking platform.

Solomon Obike co-founded Edge Agrotek Services Limited an agribusiness enterprise that deals on sale of improved seed varieties and agrochemicals and Farmteco Consulting Limited a value chain development consultancy company. He has led several agriculture related committees within the civil society space in Nigeria.

Before joining AATF he worked with National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) as head of Agriculture and Livelihoods where he managed several projects on trade, agriculture and livelihoods interventions funded by Federal Government of Nigeria (trader money for SMEs), AGRA’s farmers resilience project, ECOWAS-RAAF’s dairy sector development project, World Bank’s cross border traders empowerment project, OXFAM’s IDP Project, USAID feed the future project, Action Aid International and several other INGOs.

He is experienced in seed and grain production, extension programs and project management and has managed effective information flow on improved technologies to influence adoption and has co-created information dissemination strategy with Sasakawa African Association and National Program for Food Security on GAP for AGRA resilience project. He has also managed interventions relating to market linkages through strategic inclusive market and trade initiatives with AFEX and Olam. He has adept knowledge in seed systems, advocacy, community entry and mobilization to drive development initiatives that empower smallholder farmers.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, a certificate in Trade Negotiation Skills from UKAID, certificate in Benchmarking for Trade for SMEs from International Trade Center Geneva and he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Agriculture and Rural Development from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Olawale Ojo
Hybrid Seed Market Development Manager

Olawale Ojo, brings over a decade of experience in the hybrid seed industry. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Agribusiness from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Complementing his academic achievements are certifications in Professional and Digital Marketing, Social Media Management, and Integrated Farming Systems. Olawale applies his expertise to drive growth, innovation, and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

With a proven track record at Bayer CropScience, The Monsanto Company, and Syngenta, Olawale has successfully introduced innovative hybrid seeds, expanded market penetration, and established partnerships with key stakeholders. At Bayer CropScience, he profiled seed markets across West Africa and spearheaded initiatives that increased market share and demand for hybrid vegetable seeds. His tenure at Monsanto saw the successful launch of hybrid maize seed varieties, while at Syngenta, he facilitated agribusiness development projects that empowered smallholder farmers and boosted yields.

Olawale’s unwavering commitment to sustainable agriculture is evident through his collaborations with organizations like AGRA, ZOWACEL, and SAKAKAWA, which have expanded market reach and improved smallholder farmer adoption of hybrid seeds. His technical knowledge, strategic leadership, and dedication to fostering innovation continue to transform the hybrid seed industry, creating a lasting impact on food systems and rural livelihoods across Sub Saharan Africa.

He is a Nigerian national.

TUYISENGE Jean d’Amour
Project Accounts Assistant, RABP

TUYISENGE Jean d’Amour is a professional finance expert with six years of experience in financial management, budgeting, and reporting across both non-profit and private sector organizations. He is currently finalizing a Master’s degree (MBA) in Accounting and Finance at the University of Kigali (2025). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Science from the University of Rwanda and a High School Diploma in Accounting. Additionally, he has obtained international certificates in Financial Management, Climate Finance, and Risk Management from the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation, SDG Finance Academy, UNITAR, and the International Trade Center.

Before joining AATF as a Project Accounts Assistant (Rwanda, Kigali Program Office), he worked as a Finance Officer at ARCOS, where he was responsible for overseeing organizational financial operations, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and managing multi-project budget controls and reporting. He also served as an Accounting & Finance Officer at Nature Rwanda, where he managed financial planning, donor reporting, and tax compliance.

Previously, he worked as an Accountant at Agrah Care Farm Service Center, where he was responsible for financial recording, fund management, and reporting. Additionally, he worked as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer at One Acre Fund, contributing to the development of data-driven financial strategies to assess project impact and effectiveness. He also served as a Data Entry Officer at One Acre Fund, where he was responsible for collecting, processing, and maintaining accurate payment data from farmers while assisting in report generation.

TUYISENGE Jean d’Amour is proficient in accounting and financial management software, including QuickBooks, Odoo, Sage Accounting Software, Koobo, and TimeTrex.

TUYISENGE Jean d’Amour is Rwandan.

Annet Mbabazi
Programme Administrative Assistant, RABP

She holds Bachelor of Science degree in Supplies and Procurement Management from the University of Kigali.

She has joined AATF as a Project Administrative Assistant – RABP.

Annet has previously worked with Chemonics International under a USAID program as a Project Assistant from 2019 to 2021 where she held the position of Project Assistant and HR Assistant. She has also worked with Airtel Rwanda as a Front Desk Specialist.

Annet brings on board experience in project administration, event management, procurement, logistics, and human resources in Rwanda.

Annet MBABAZI is a Rwandan

Dr. Leonce Dusengemungu
Programme Coordinator, RABP-CMP

Dr. Dusengemungu holds a PhD in Biotechnology from Copperbelt University, Zambia, a Master of Science in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology from Lanzhou University, China, and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

He has worked with TechScientia Consultancy Ltd as a Consultant, supporting research and analysis across various agricultural value chains. He has also worked as a Consultant with Byose Ltd, focusing on the development of biofertilizers, and as a Lab Technician at the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).

He is a dedicated mentor at the AFF-ALU Food Systems Mentorship Program and an African Food Fellow, he is a member of the American Society for Microbiology. He is committed to advancing biotechnology, food security, and sustainable agriculture through research, innovation, and strategic partnerships. He is a national of Rwanda, and speaks various languages including English, French, Kiswahili, Chinese and Kinyarwanda

Dr Grace Kamau
Board Member

CPA Dr. Grace Kamau is an accomplished Leader in Finance, Strategy, Leadership, and Governance professional, expert, and researcher.

She has experience in impacting business direction and performance, with successful leadership strategies, tactical decision-making, and forward-thinking approaches. She is the Chief Executive Officer at ICPAK and secretary to the council.

She is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council of the Institute following her appointment in August 2023 having acted in the same position from January 2023. Previously, she served as the Director, Finance and Strategy position within ICPAK. She represents the Institute as the Technical Advisor to IFAC and as a board member in PAFA. She is a board member of the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), a member of the Court Annex Mediation Accreditation Committee, and a board member of Exinity East Africa Limited, where she Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. She was recently appointed to the International Financial Reporting Standards – IFRS Foundation’s Council, as a Council Members. She has also held various leadership positions in blue-chip companies in Kenya and beyond. She is a well-seasoned, all-rounded finance, leadership, and governance professional and researcher. She possesses vital experience and expertise in stakeholder management, advocacy, training, strategy formulation and execution and talent management among other skills.

CPA Dr. Grace holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Strategic Management), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Strategic Management) Degree both from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree from Kenyatta University and a Certified Public Accountant. She is also a Member of ICPAK, Institute of Investment and Financial Analyst (ICIFA), a member of Institute of Directors(IoD) and a member of the Association of Women Accountants of Kenya (AWAK).

Prof. Saudin Jacob Mwakaje
Member, Board of Trustees

Prof. Mwakaje is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law, Tanzania.

Currently, he is the Chief Corporate Counsel and Secretary to Council of the University of Dar es Salaam and Member of the ARIPO Board of Appeal for 2024/25 tenure. He is a chairman of the Board of Directors at National Arts Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the ‘’’Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL). He is a seasoned researcher and has extensively published in the fields of intellectual property rights (IPR) and investment law. He is also a legal practitioner licensed to practice in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. He is one of the founding partners of NexLaw Advocates, a law firm based in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. He heads the Intellectual Property Department of the firm handling contentions and non-contentious matters for local and international clients. His areas of practice and research are: Intellectual Property Law, Investment and Corporate Transactional Law, and international trade and finance law.

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy PhD (Dar), Master of Laws (LL.M) in Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology (University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce Law Center, USA), LL.M (Dar), Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) (Dar). Prof. Mwakaje has advised clients (large corporations and SMEs) on technology transfer agreements and on how to integrate intellectual property issues within the broader context of their business so as to maximize their enterprise’s assets portfolio and also maintain their competitive edge in the market.

Prof. Mwakaje is a tutor in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy DL courses (has tutored DL 301E, DL205E18S1, DL4001E20S1, and DL303E21S3). He has worked as a consultant and legal advisor in several projects for public and private sector and also for the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), East African Community (EAC), Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), and the World Bank.

Dr Katrin Glatzel
Board Member

Katrin Glatzel is a public policy specialist working at the intersection of research, policy, and governance with a focus on agrifood systems transformation in Africa.

She holds a PhD in Environmental Research from Imperial College London, the MSc in Public Management and Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in European Studies from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

She currently serves as Director for Global Strategy and Programs at AKADEMIYA2063 and is based in Kigali, Rwanda. Before that, she was a Senior Researcher and Program Leader at the University of Bonn’s Center for Development Research (ZEF) in Germany, where she implemented the Agrifood Systems-Transformative Research Policy project.

Her interests span agrifood systems governance and public policy, Africa-Europe relations and partnerships, the climate-agriculture-nutrition nexus, and the bioeconomy.

She previously served as the Director of Policy Innovation at AKADEMIYA2063 in Dakar, Senegal, and was in charge of the organization’s research activities around governance and public policy to accelerate food systems transformation and inclusive economic growth in Africa. She oversaw the implementation of the Digitally Enabled Resilience and Nutrition Policy Innovations (DERPIn) project and served as the program head of the Malabo Montpellier Panel for over ten years. She also served as a Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and as a Policy and Research Officer at Imperial College London.

She is a Member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the GIZ Global Program on Food Systems Transformation, a Visiting Researcher at Imperial College London, and an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development.

Kenneth Somayina Obichukwu
Plant Operator, Mechanization

Kenneth is a Mechanical Engineering graduate (BEng) from Olabisi Onabanjo University, with a strong foundation in mechanical systems and operations.

As the Plant Operator in Mechanization at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the efficient operation and maintenance of advanced cassava processing equipment at the Fasola Agric. Hub in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Prior to joining AATF, Kenneth gained valuable industry experience as a Machine Operator in a corrugating machine within the paper converter industry, where he gained valuable skills in equipment handling, troubleshooting, and quality assurance. In his current role, Kenneth is dedicated to ensuring seamless cassava processing operations, maintaining compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality (HSEQ) standards, and contributing to the empowerment of village-based processors through access to cutting-edge mechanization services. A results-driven professional with a hands-on approach, he is committed to leveraging his expertise to support AATF’s mission of enhancing agricultural innovation and sustainability across Africa.

Kenneth is a Nigerian national.

Albert Anthony
Program Officer ,Seed Field
Operation

Albert Anthony is a trained Plant Breeder and a practicing Seed Production Specialist.

He has over 11 years’ experience working with Agricultural Firm and Biotechnology regulatory body, where he actively involved in crop improvement, seed production and seed system. He has practical experience working with seed out-growers and Agro-dealers in cowpea value chains, seed regulations and certifications.

Before joining AATF, Albert worked for National Biosafety Management Agency as a Principal Scientific officer. He also worked for WACOT LTD as Research Associate in Seed division.

He holds a M.Sc. in Plant Breeding from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and B.Agric. (Crop Production), from and Adamawa State University, Mubi.

Albert will be responsible for overseeing and managing the entire cowpea seed field operations. He will be propelling the efficient and high-quality production of cowpea seeds by working closely with various teams, including seed out-growers, agronomy, research and development, and operations.

Albert is a Nigerian by nationality.

Naomi Gikonyo
Program Officer Value Chains
and Market Development

Naomi Gikonyo is a trained agricultural economist with vast knowledge in agricultural value chains, market development, and agricultural technology adoption and commercialization.

With over five years of experience, Naomi has excelled in project management, market analysis, and the development of innovative strategies to support smallholder farmers. Her work focuses on enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of farmers through the application of data-driven insights and research methodologies. Naomi holds a BSc. in Agribusiness Management, an MSc. in Agricultural and Applied Economics and she is also a certified public accountant (CPA K).

Previously, Naomi worked as a County Analyst at East Africa Market Development Associates (EAMDA), where she was instrumental in executing multiple donor-funded agricultural development projects. During her tenure, Naomi contributed to market studies, facilitated value chain analyses, and engaged stakeholders, including smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to drive agricultural innovation and strengthen market linkages. Naomi’s expertise in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis allows her to derive actionable insights that inform policy and strategic decisions. She has a keen interest in climate-smart agriculture and has worked on several projects that address the impacts of climate change on agriculture, contributing to the development of sustainable practices that increase resilience in farming communities.

At AATF, Naomi is responsible for supporting the commercialization and scaling of agricultural technologies across key projects. She contributes to the design and implementation of market studies and value chain analyses for selected commodities, ensuring that agronomic practices, climate change implications, and economic opportunities are thoroughly assessed. Naomi also plays a key role in creating linkages between value chain players, including farmer cooperatives, marketing groups, and private sector partners, fostering inclusive business models that benefit smallholder farmers and contribute to the overall sustainability of agricultural innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Naomi is a Kenyan National.

Samuel Ogunleye
Project Coordinator, Mechanization

Samuel Ogunleye is a diligent agribusiness coach, people’s trainer and agribusiness development expert with extensive experience in:  Project Management, Agricultural value chain development, Commodity market research, Extension services, and Outgrowers’ management.

 As a seasoned Agribusiness Consultant, I have successfully created sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships among various stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. With credentials as a Professional Agri-Business Coach Certification from the International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA), a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Samuel leverages his expertise to drive growth, productivity, and profitability in the agricultural sector, fostering a more sustainable and equitable food system.

Samuel is a Nigerian national.

Solomon Akinyemi Makinde
Hybrid Seed Production Officer

Solomon Akinyemi Makinde is a trained Plant Breeder and Seed Production Specialist. 

He has over 15 years’ experience working with several International Agricultural organizations, where he actively involved in crop development, evaluations under multiple stresses, registration for commercialization, seed production and seed system. He has practical experience working with seed out-growers and agro-dealers in maize value chains, seed regulations and certifications. 

Before joining AATF, Solomon worked for Crop Science division of Bayer Nigeria Limited as Seed Production Manager. He was previously the Plant & Field Operations Supervisor and Technology Development Representative for Monsanto Agriculture Nigeria Limited. He also worked as Research Supervisor and Research Technician for Africa Rice and Maize Improvement Program of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), respectively. 

He holds a PhD in Plant Breeding, M. Agric. (Plant Breeding), Post-Graduate Diploma in Plant Breeding and Seed Technology from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria and MBA in Agribusiness Management from Rome Business School, Italy. 

Solomon will be responsible for overseeing and managing the entire hybrid maize seed production process, from field operations to plant activities. He will be driving the efficient and high-quality production of hybrid maize seeds by working closely with various teams, including seed out-growers, agronomy, research and development, and operations. 

Solomon is a Nigerian national. 

Agnes Musau
Procurement Manager

Agnes Musau is a Supply Chain Management practitioner holding a BCom in Purchasing & Business Logistics from Daystar University, Diploma in Purchasing & Supplies Management from Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), East Africa Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) from Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA), Diploma in air cargo services from IATA and currently pursuing her MCIPS Certification.

Before joining AATF, Agnes worked with ActionAid International Kenya, a non-profit organization working with Women, Children and Youth, where she led Procurement and Administration unit for the country program as well as provided support to the Secretariate – Nairobi Hub office for shared services. Prior to that, she worked with Amiran Communication Limited, a private limited company and a subsidiary of Balton CP, with international presence in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on providing advanced technology solutions across Africa, where she served in various positions on Logistics and Administration.

Mrs. Agnes Musau has over 10 years’ experience in Supply Chain Management and has provided specialist support on Supply Chain Management matters. She is committed to ensuring Supply Chain Management function become a business partner through collaboration and innovative support.

Agnes is responsible for the Procurement function at AATF. Agnes is a Kenyan national.

Gabriel Macharia
Data Management Officer

Gabriel Macharia is a dedicated Data Management Officer at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) who bears a strong passion for turning data into actionable insights. He is deeply involved in managing and standardizing data for various research projects across the African continent. Gabriel also mentors agritech start-ups, helping them leverage data to drive sustainable innovations.

Before his role at AATF, Gabriel honed his skills as a Senior Python Developer at Trendy Gadgets Company Ltd, where he led significant projects that optimized data systems and improved overall efficiency. His experience as a Data Scientist and Administrator at Data Glacier in South Korea allowed him to develop automated models that boosted marketing performance and provided clients with valuable insights.

Gabriel’s journey also took him to Strabag International GmbH in Cologne, where he worked as a Data Scientist and IT Officer. There, he developed and scaled machine learning models that enhanced productivity and provided the company with crucial data-driven strategies. His earlier experience as an Administrator and Information Analyst at Brade Gate International College was equally impactful, as he built data systems from scratch and implemented strategies that improved customer engagement.

Academically, Gabriel holds an MSc in Biomathematics from Strathmore University and he earned his BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from Kirinyaga University, with a focus on computer science and the application of mathematics in technology. Additionally, Gabriel is certified in Networking (CCNA) from Kenyatta University, specializing in the configuration and management of network systems.

Gabriel’s blend of technical expertise, hands-on experience, and a genuine love for problem-solving makes him a valuable asset in any data-driven environment. He’s always eager to learn, grow, and contribute to meaningful projects.

Sylvia Kyeyune 
Member, Board of Trustees

Sylvia Kyeyune is a seasoned agribusiness executive with more than two decades of leadership experience advancing growth, innovation, and sustainability within the African seed industry.

She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Seeds Limited, where she leads strategic initiatives to expand farmers’ access to quality seed technologies and strengthen value chains that enhance productivity and food security.

Prior to this, she held various leadership positions at Simlaw Seeds Company Uganda Limited, where she rose to Chief Executive Officer and successfully steered business transformation and market expansion. Sylvia holds dual Master’s degrees; an MBA from the Uganda Management Institute and an MSc in Agriculture (Crop Science) from Makerere University, Kampala as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the same university.

Sylvia currently serves on the Board of the Uganda Seed Trade Association and has previously been a Board Member of the Africa Seed Trade Association, roles through which she gained significant exposure to global seed industry trends, governance practices, and strategic partnerships with international stakeholders. She also contributes her expertise to committees of various institutions focused on agribusiness and innovation

Josephat Kimanzi
Business Services Support Manager

Josephat holds a Master of Arts in Community Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Transformation, both from Daystar University.

He is a seasoned banker having worked with different banks for over 15 years in various leadership positions. Before joining AATF, he worked in Faulu Microfinance Bank Ltd as a Business Growth and Development Manager.

He also served as a Manager Operational Excellence, focusing on service delivery, controls and compliance. He was part of the core team that transitioned Faulu into a fully-fledged microfinance bank. Josephat also worked for SMEP Microfinance Bank, African Banking Corporation (ABC), Charterhouse Bank Ltd and East Africa Building Society (EABS) bank.

Josephat is an experienced business growth and operations professional whose passion is to economically transform communities.

Josephat is a Kenyan National.

Shehu Muhammad Dandago
Chief Agronomist

Shehu Muhammad Dandago has over 20 years of multi-disciplinary experience in both Industrial, public, private, and International non-governmental (NGO) organizations as Laboratory Analyst, Research Associate, Food Security, and Seed System Agronomist in both Emergency and Developmental programming.

He has a master’s degree in Agronomy from Bayero University Kano (BUK) Nigeria, Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management, and B.Sc. Degree in Applied Biology. Shehu is a Nigerian national.

Love Unini Adegbola
Administration Assistant – Abuja

Love Unini Adegbola is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria(CIPM) and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History & International Studies (Second Class Upper) from Kogi State University and is currently pursuing an MBA degree from the National Open University of Nigeria.

Before joining AATF, Love worked as Administrative Officer/ Corporate Social Responsibility Champion for Grant Thornton Nigeria (World’s 7th largest accounting network) for over 6 years. She has also volunteered for the World Health Organization in Nigeria as well as other local NGOs.

Love is well vast in general administration, procurement & logistics, event planning, and human resources management.

At AATF, Love Adegbola is responsible for general office management, assets management, management of transport services, and events organization among other administrative duties.

She is a Nigerian National.

Prof. Maggie Gill
Member, Board of Trustees

Professor Maggie Gill has had a 40-year career in the agri-food sector, split almost evenly between conducting research, managing research programme funding and advising research funders, in the UK , New Zealand, European Commission and, for international development, the World Bank and numerous national international development departments.

Her original interests were in livestock nutrition (mainly grass-fed sheep and cattle) but over time those broadened to interests on interactions between agriculture more generally, with the environment and again food systems and in the last two decades to the interface between science and policy.

She was the first Chief Scientific Adviser on Rural Affairs and the Environment in the Scottish Government and currently chairs both the Scottish Science Advisory Council and BBSRC’s Sustainable Agriculture and Food Strategy Panel. She was instrumental in creating the Zoonoses from Emerging Livestock Systems research programme (ZELS Programme Impact Report – UKRI) whilst a Senior Research Fellow at DFID, was a member of the Data, Evidence and Science Working Group of the RSE post-Covid-19 Futures Commission (Home – RSE Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission :RSE Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission (rsecovidcommission.org.uk) and a member of the Science legacy of Covid Working Group Working Group of the SSAC (SSAC Report – Building on the Science Legacy of Covid-19 in Scotland.pdf (scottishscience.org.uk)

She is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, currently living in rural Aberdeenshire.

H.E. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah

Member,Board of Trustees

His Excellency Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah is the Ambassador & Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the UN Office in Geneva, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other offices in Geneva.

He currently Chairs the Africa Group of Ambassadors in Geneva (April 2021-June 2021) and is the Vice Chair for UNCTAD’s Commission on Science and Technology Development’s 25th session and a member of the Advisory Board of the UNCTAD TDB Advisory Body (June 2021-July 2022). Ambassador Prof. Kah is also one of three Ambassadors designated as Friends of the Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assembly.

Prior to his appointment in Geneva, Professor Kah served as the Founding Chairman of Zenith Bank, The Gambia, Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Africa Consulting & Trading Group (ACT), Dakar, Senegal, and as the first Gambian-born third Vice-Chancellor of The University of The Gambia (UTG) from 2009- 2015 and recently appointed as a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prior to becoming UTG’s Vice Chancellor/Rector in 2009, Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah spent 4 years in Nigeria as the Founding Dean of the School of Information Technology and Communications at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where he doubled for a year as Interim Dean of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship. Professor Kah was appointed as Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost (DVC) and Professor of Information Technology & Computing at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State (2017-2020). He also served as Vice Rector for Technology & Innovation; Professor and Founding Dean of the School of Information Technology & Engineering at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan (2015-2017). He served on the Board of Trustees and Governing councils of the American University of Nigeria and the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Nigeria.

Professor Kah has held teaching and leadership positions in the USA, Africa, the Middle East (Gulf countries), and Eastern Europe (Caucuses). A regular contributor to the “Africa Module” in the Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) at Cambridge Judge Business School, he was appointed as an honorary Fellow of the Judge Business School and the Digital Innovation Centre, University of Cambridge (2016-2017). Professor Kah is passionate about advancing and strengthening computing, engineering, science, and leading strategy & innovation in organizations. To complement that he also provides thought leadership in information technologies & computing education in higher education whilst also serving as a member of international panels such as the Malabo Montpellier Panel, the Euro Science Forum 2018, and the Africa Europe Foundation, amongst others.

Completing his BSc, MSc. and Ph.D. at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, one of the top engineering and technology management universities in the USA, Professor Kah also holds a Master of Science in Finance (Financial Engineering) from George Washington University, Washington, DC and a Postgraduate Diploma (Dip SI) in Strategy and Innovation from the Said Business School, University of Oxford, UK.

Professor Kah has completed several Executive Education Programs: University of Cambridge, Judge Business School: the Advanced Leadership (ALP) Program; Advanced Leadership Re-Union & Follow-Up Program in Singapore and Beyond Innovation: Business Models for Transformation & Competitive Advantage; Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School: Transforming Leadership for 21st Century Africa, and The AGA KHAN University, Graduate School of Media & Communication: The Voice of Leadership; Inspiration, Influence & Impact. In Corporate Governance, he has completed the highly reputable International Directors Program (IDP) as an Internationally Certified Director from INSEAD, through the INSEAD Singapore and Fontainebleau, France, Campus. Professor Kah is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), in London, UK.​

Kehinde Saheed Jimoh  

Program Officer-Seed Systems and Agribusiness

Kehinde Saheed Jimoh has over ten years of multidisciplinary experience in agricultural market systems, agricultural value chain development, and seed systems. He has a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Prior to joining AATF, he worked with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) on secondment from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and he worked with a cross departmental team to implement actions on Nigerian seed industry development and strengthening of operations and administration of seed activities in Nigeria. At FMARD, he worked at the office of the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2014-2016 appraising the impact of government and donor sponsored programs on beneficiaries and with the Root and Tuber Division, Federal Department of Agriculture, where he worked directly with cassava farmers and SMEs providing technical guidance on market intelligence, post-harvest handling and value addition.

Kehinde has considerable experience working with donor funded projects such as Bill and Melinda Gates funded Cassava bread Initiative in Nigeria (2012-2014) and the Gates Foundation sponsored Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, BASICS (2015-2025). In 2021, he worked as a part-time consultant for USW, the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat industry, to assist the organization in increasing brand awareness in Nigeria.

As Program Officer-Seed Systems and Agribusiness at AATF, Kehinde is responsible for assisting in the project management, coordination, reporting, and accountability obligations of the Early Generation Seed (EGS) Nigeria Project. He is a Nigerian citizen.

Dr. Bernard Oddy Ehirim 

Programme Officer-Stewardship

Bernard Oddy Ehirim is an experienced Crop scientist with a core bias in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology.

He has more than a decade working experience with the international and national agricultural research system where he has been actively involved in laboratory and field research, development, and improvement of crop varieties across Africa. He has a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics form the Federal University of Technology Minna Nigeria, an MSc in Crop Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with Scholarship from Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and a BSc in Plant Science and Biotechnology from Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.

Before joining AATF, Bernard was a Research fellow with the AfricaRice center from 2012 to 2014 and worked as a Principal Research Officer, with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi, Nigeria where he worked as a plant breeder and biotechnologist. He was the Biotechnology Laboratory manager of same institute, a member of the rice breeding task force (RBTF) for Africa, coordinated and was directly involved in the research that led to the eventual nomination, registration and release of the first ever submergence rice variety in Nigeria and the first ever Hybrid rice variety in Nigeria sponsored by Bayer.  Bernard was the Trial Manager to the NEWEST rice project for Africa, a member of the grant and proposal writing committee of NCRI that attracted several grants for the research and development of rice in Nigeria. He is also, member to several professional bodies related to Agriculture, Research, and Development.

Bernard’s publications include several journal articles, and conference papers presented at international and national conferences.

 As a Programme Officer-Stewardship at AATF, Bernard is responsible for supporting the compliance and monitoring of activities related to stewardship, formulation and implementation of strategies and plans to facilitate effective and efficient product delivery through proper monitoring and regulatory compliance. Bernard has always been involved and excited to be part of technologies that help bring food and extra income to the table of resource-poor African farmers. He is a Nigerian.

Joyce Njuguna

Monitoring Evaluation & Learning Officer

Joyce is a dedicated Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning specialist with extensive experience in food systems and agripreneurship projects. Cumulatively, she has over 10 years working experience and has developed sound expertise in designing MEL plans, conducting evaluations, result based management and producing quality reports with best practices and lessons learnt. Through her MEL work, Joyce has over the years gained extensive involvement in stakeholder engagement from both private and public sector ranging from agro input service providers, off takers, financiers, Non-Governmental Organization. This is through improving output rates by enforcing and monitoring practices, policy and results. Joyce is skilled at combining qualitative and qualitative analysis with excellent communication skills to relay information for improvement and process changes and drive overall organization goal.  Joyce holds a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management. She is a certified MEL practitioner and a certified public accountant (CPA K).

Previously, Joyce worked with Cereal Growers Association as the MEL lead and further as the project manager for the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) program funded by World food Programme. While at CGA, she led MEL initiatives under different donors such as AGRA, USAID, GIZ among others. Joyce led a team of 30 experienced county Agribusiness Coordinators, working with over 700 rural agri-preneurs known as Farmer Service Centers (FSCs). These FSCs served well over 125,000 small holder farmers in Kenya.

At AATF, Joyce is responsible for providing MEL leadership in terms of development and optimization of the MEL Strategy that measures program-wide performance and achievements towards outcomes (using the Outcomes & Impact Framework core indicators and other methods as appropriate) including roll-out of new MEL related initiatives. Joyce is a Kenyan National.

Grace Mukasa

Resource Mobilization Officer

Grace is a communications specialist with over 15 years’ working experience in diverse sectors including agriculture and health.

Prior to joining AATF, she worked as an independent consultant since May 2017 where she provided communications support including resource mobilization for both public and private sector clients. She previously worked with Merck Health Care and Life Sciences, Kenya as a Communications Manager from 2015 to 2017.  Prior to that, she was the Corporate Communications Officer at AATF from 2011 to 2015 and the Project Communications Officer – WEMA Project from 2008 to 2011. She also served as the Publications Editor for the Institute of Policy & Research, Kenya from 2004 to 2008.

Grace holds an MA in Gender and Development and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communications from the University of Nairobi and a BSc. Information Sciences from Moi University. Grace will be applying her knowledge and experience in communication to support AATF’s Resource Mobilization initiatives. Grace will double up as the AATF editor and provide administrative services to the AATF consultancy arm. Grace is a Kenyan national.

Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu
Member, Board of Directors

Prof Garba Hamidu Sharubutu is the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. He is a specialist in Infectious Diseases of Livestock and Veterinary Legislation. A Native of Kwande, Qua’an – Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Garba Sharubutu was born on June 19, 1961. He attended St. John Vianney’s Transferred Roman Catholic (RCM) Primary School, Kwande; Government Secondary School (G.S.S.) Shendam; and the Plateau State School of Preliminary Studies (SPS) in Keffi, Nassarawa State.

Hamidu Sharubutu obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) degree from Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U), Zaria in 1986; a Masters of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc) degree from the University of Ibadan in 1992; and a Ph.D. from Usman Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto in 2002.

Prof. Sharubutu began his public service career in the Federal Livestock Department that same year (1987), subsequently joining the services of Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University as Assistant Lecturer in 1991 and rose to the rank of a Professor in 2005. He held numerous positions including Complex Co-ordinator of City Campus Complex of the University; Chairman, ASUU UDUS branch; Dean Faculty of Veterinary medicine; and Chairman of many sensitive University Committees.

He has earned numerous awards including the Presidential National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Honours in 1987 and nurtured many talents across the agricultural research sector. A seasoned professional, he is no novice in the academic, administrative and managerial sphere, and he is well published.

Prior to his appointment as the Executive Secretary on 16^th April, 2020, he acted in that position between September 2019 – April, 2020. Prof. Sharubutu has also held several positions in the public sector including National President, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (2005 – 2009); President of Veterinary Council of Nigeria (2013 – 2017); Provost, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom (2014 – 2018). He is an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, where he also served as the Monitor General of SEC 35, 2013.

Prof. Aggrey Ambali
Chair, Board of Trustees

Prof. Aggrey Ambali is currently serving as Head of Science, Technology and Innovation Hub (NSTIH) at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, where he oversees the development and implementation of programs in education, health, and science and technology. He has also served in other positions at the NEPAD Agency, including Director of Policy Alignment and Program Development, Coordinator of the African Biosciences Initiative, and Coordinator of Science and Technology for the Southern Africa region.

He has been actively involved in science, technology and innovation programmes of the African Union.

He coordinated the work of the African Union High Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation which was appointed in July 2012 and mandated to prepare a ten-year African Union Science, Technology and Innovation strategy for Africa, 2014- 2024 (STISA 2024). Outside the NEPAD Agency, he served as an external member of Governing Council of the University of Namibia, and member of the Innovation Council of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

He serves on several committees including the Technical Advisory Committee of the Biosafety Program of ICGEB, Chair of the Management Committee of the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), member of the Advisory Panel of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA), etc.

Prof. Aggrey Ambali is currently coordinating the process of establishing a high-level African Union panel on harnessing emerging technologies for Africa’s development. He obtained a PhD degree in Population Genetics from Dalhousie University, Canada, Masters of Science in Aquaculture from Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from University of Malawi.

He served as a faculty member at the University of Malawi where he became a Professor of Biology in 2003.

Prof. Bernard Slippers
Member, Board of Directors

Bernard Slippers is the Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme at the University of Pretoria.

He is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology. Bernard’s research focus is on the ecology, evolution, and management of insects and fungi that affect plant health. He uses genetic, genomic, and chemical tools to characterize patterns of diversity and the global spread of invasive plant pests and pathogens, as well as their population dynamics, communication systems, mating strategies, and community structures.

Bernard is committed to capacity development and has acted as supervisor or co-supervisor to more than 100 postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. and MSc students. Bernard is also passionate about the transformation of science in Africa (and beyond) towards a more transdisciplinary and competitive system with a greater impact on society. Much of this has been done through his active involvement with Academies and the global Young Academy movement. He is a founding member and past co-chair/executive committee member of both the Global Young Academy and the South African Young Academies of Science.

With these and other collaborators, he has also been involved in various projects to advance Young Academies and development of research capacity. A prominent example is the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP), amongst others.

Bernard is also the Founding Director of Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, a transdisciplinary research network hub and campus, and currently leads a university-industry-government research investment platform called Innovation Africa @UP.

Verenardo Meeme

Program Officer – Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Technology (OFAB)

Verenardo Meeme is a passionate development communication specialist with over eight year’s professional experience in science journalism, knowledge management, media training and media management. Meeme is currently a programme officer, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Technology (OFAB), at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).

Before joining AATF, Meeme worked as a communication and knowledge management programme officer at Kilimo Trust, a not-for-profit organization working on agriculture for development across East Africa. He has also been the Kenya correspondent for Cornell Alliance for Science that seeks to promote access to scientific innovation as a means of enhancing food security, improving environmental sustainability, and raising the quality of life globally.

Meeme previously worked at Rootooba Limited as a communications specialist and was the founding editor of PanAfrican Agriculture magazine. He was also involved in Rootooba’s knowledge management engagement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Food safety programmes. Before joining Rootooba, he worked as a multi-media practitioner at SciDev.Net, an online platform that brings science and global development together through news and analysis, and at Citizen Television’s online desk as an assistant editor.

He also worked at the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications as a communications consultant, and at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission as a cohesion monitor. Meeme was a lead consultant in the design and implementation of several NGO initiatives inclined to science-based communications for varied clientele and has produced documentaries for Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture.

He has published over 200 articles focusing on biotechnology and biosafety online and in the print media. He formerly served as an advisor to the Meru County Member of Parliament on media relations, messaging, branding, and political communication strategies. He is the current Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association (KENSJA) organizing secretary.

Meeme was named Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology’s 2019 overall winner for excellent science journalism and finalists in Africa and is a 2018 Cornell Alliance for Science Global Leadership Fellow. He holds a master’s degree in communication studies with a specialization in development communication from the University of Nairobi, a bachelor’s degree in communication and public relations from Moi University, a diploma in journalism from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and a Global Leadership Fellowship certificate from Cornell University, USA.  Verenardo is a Kenyan national.

Peter Mugambi
Director, Corporate Services

Peter Mugambi holds an MBA from the University of Nairobi and professional accounting qualifications. Peter has extensive finance and operations experience, having worked at various international organizations for over fifteen years at different management levels. Before joining the AATF, he worked in Jhpiego Corporation as Finance and Administration Director, managing a substantial donor funding portfolio. Peter has also worked for CNFA, CARE International, Oxfam GB, and General Motors. He has provided specialist finance, operations, and compliance support to various organizations within Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Peter is an innovative problem solver and works to create motivated, agile and collaborative teams. Peter is a Kenyan national.

Moses Taiwo Ajireloja
Programme Officer- Seed Systems

Moses Taiwo Ajireloja is an excellent seed specialist with sound knowledge of seed production and seed systems, together with experience in promoting agricultural innovations (especially improved seed varieties) that can help smallholder farmers to become more productive, profitable, and sustainable. Moses holds a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) Degree in Seed Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Agriculture (B.Agric.) Degree in Crop Production and Protection, both from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of The SDG Academy where he participated in a comprehensive course on ‘Feeding a Hungry Planet: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Sustainability’. Moses also holds a Diploma in Computer Science, and he had been a participant in several online courses including project management, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy, and digital technology. Prior to joining AATF, Moses was the Coordinator and Lead Developer of the Nigerian Seed Portal Initiative where he was responsible for facilitating the development of the seed portal and promoting the adoption of improved seed varieties towards boosting agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. As a Programme Officer- Seed Systems at AATF, Moses is responsible for supporting the formulation and implementation of seed production strategies and plans, to facilitate effective and efficient product delivery, and seed systems components of projects. Moses is passionate about contributing to the realization of a prosperous and food-secure Africa where the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are transformed through innovative agricultural technologies that deliver results that increase farmers’ income, enhance food security, and improve nutrition. He is a Nigerian national.

Alex Abutu
Communications Officer-West & Central Africa

Augustine Abutu Alexander is a veteran science journalist with many years of practical experience covering agriculture, health, climate change, and development for various media platforms across Africa and the United Kingdom. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the Benue State University, Makurdi, and has just completed course works and dissertation for the award of a master’s degree in development communication from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (Award of degree awaited). Prior to joining AATF, Alex was Editor, Agriculture, and Environment Desk at the Daily Trust newspaper, Abuja. In 2009, Alex was honored by the World Federation of Science Journalists as one of the four journalists that changed the world with their investigative reporting. He was coordinator, Biosciences for Farming in Africa, media consultant to the Program for Biosafety Systems, and media adviser to Nigeria’s former Minister of Science and Technology. He was also previously involved in the training of scientists on how to communicate their research findings as well as training and mentoring of science journalists across Africa. Alex is a national of Nigeria.

Joanne Muthie
Digital Communications Officer

Joanne Muthie is a strategic communications leader with over 14 years directing communication strategy, digital engagement, and stakeholder relations across complex, multi-country development environments in Africa and beyond.

At the Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), she brings in expertise in strategic brand and project communications and digital engagement, with work spanning institutional positioning, high-visibility continental campaigns, and communication in sensitive, high-stakes subject areas – including the #LetsTalkGMO public dialogue platform, which reached an estimated 10 million viewers.

Her career spans institutional, donor-funded, and commercial communications, with earlier leadership roles at Oxygène Marketing and Communications and Blueprint Africa (Ogilvy). She has completed her executive education with Cornell University (e-Cornell) in Digital and Social Media Marketing; Digital Transformation and Marketing Analytics; holds a Bachelor of Sciece degree (First Class Honours), and is completing an MA in Mass Communications at Liverpool John Moores University.

Joanne is a Kenyan national.

George Achia
Communications Officer-East and Southern Africa

George is a Communications, Public Relations (PR) and Media professional with over eight years’ of experience in corporate communications, media relations, developing and implementing communications strategies, media, development of IEC materials, content development, media training, event planning & management and stakeholder & influencers relations. George holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies from Moi University and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts Degree in Communication Studies (Strategic Communication) from the University of Nairobi. Before joining AATF, George worked with different Communications & PR Firms including Apex Porter Novelli (APN) and Chatter Media Africa as an Account Manager where he helped manage communications and PR functions for the corporate clients. Further, he handled the day-to-day PR activities for the clients including media relations and advocacy, corporate positioning, stakeholder relations, event management as well as act as the client-service lead for the accounts. He conceptualized and implemented different campaigns and media relations activities for the clients under intertwined strategies that helped the clients achieve their communications/organizational objectives. Before that, he worked as a science journalist reporting on different aspects of Science, Technology, and Innovation for different science publications such as ScienceAfrica and SciDev.Net – all focusing in bringing science, development and policy issues together through news and analysis in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the Communications Officer – East and Southern African, George is responsible for enhancing the visibility of AATF in the media, promoting the brand and its projects among target audiences in and outside Africa. George is a Kenyan national.

Erasmus Mwangi
Budget and Grants Management officer

Erasmus Mwangi holds an MBA (Finance) and a B.Com(Accounting), both from the University of Nairobi. He is also Certified Public Accountant and a member of ICPAK.

Prior to joining AATF, Erasmus worked at the Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) as a Grants Specialist, where he supported the budgeting, grants administration, compliance and reporting functions for 100+ grants from major international donors including The Gates Foundation, World Bank, Give Directly, GIZ and major European and American Universities. Before joining IPA, Erasmus worked as a consultant in Kenya and Zimbabwe where he provided grants and financial consultancy services to various Non-Profit bodies. Erasmus also gained extensive sub-grants management experience while working at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) as a Regional Grants and Finance Officer in the Total War against Aids (TOWA) Project.

As the Budget and Grants Management officer, Erasmus oversees the budgeting, expenditure and compliance processes across the AATFs grantees who are spread across 23 African countries. He guides the preparation of, and adherence to institutional budgets as well as the partners’ project budgets.

Erasmus is a Kenyan national.

Simeon Eze
Driver, Abuja Office

Simeon Eze has been competently trained in Defensive and Advanced Driving and is currently undertaking a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the National Open University of Nigeria. Before joining AATF, he worked with the Canadian International Development Agency Program and the Castle and Towers Guards. Simeon has over 20 years’ experience in protocol, transportation and logistics. At AATF, he is responsible for administrative, transportation and logistics support. Eze is a national of Nigeria.

Paul Oni Owolabi
Associate Administrative and Finance Officer

Paul Oni Owolabi is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA) and an Associate Member of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ASM). He holds a B.Sc. Accounting (Second-class Honors) degree from the University of Benin and is currently pursuing an MBA (finance option) degree from Patten University, Oakland, California. Prior to Joining AATF, he worked as an Accountant at Sterling Travels and Tours Limited, Private Networks Nigeria (PNN GROUP), and OneCard TopUp Services Limited. Paul’s experience spans the travel and tourism industry, telecommunication and fast moving consumer goods. As Associate Administrative and Finance Officer, he is responsible for the day-to-day finance functions, project finance activities for West Africa, tax and payroll management, West Africa sub-grantee financial review, travel management, procurement, general administration and basic human resource services in the Nigeria Country office. Paul is a Nigerian national.

Francis Nang’ayo
Senior Manager, Regulatory Matters

Francis Nang’ayo, an Applied Ecologist and leading expert on biosafety and regulatory affairs, holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences (University of Nairobi, Kenya), an M.Sc. degree in Environmental Biology (University of Guelph, Canada) and a Ph.D. degree in Applied Ecology (Imperial College, University of London). Additionally, he holds a postgraduate diploma in Crop Protection from Imperial College, London. His career as a scientist begun at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) where he worked for close to 20 years rising through the ranks of Research Officer, Senior Research Officer, Principal Research Officer and Deputy Director of the Biotechnology Research Centre in Nairobi. He was later appointed General Manager in charge of Phytosanitary Services, Biosafety, and Quarantine Affairs at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) before progressing to his current appointment at AATF of Senior Manager and Head of Regulatory Affairs in 2005. He is responsible for securing regulatory approval authorisations for testing and deployment of agricultural technologies including ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements of target countries for AATF projects. Francis is a member of many professional societies including the Entomological Society of Kenya (ESK); the African Crop Science Society, the African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS), the Public Research and Regulation Forum, the African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Expert Panel on Biotechnology and Biosafety, to name a few. Previously, Francis served as Member of the Kenya Standing Technical Committee on Imports and Exports (KSTCIE), the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) of Kenya, Institutional Biosafety Committee of KALRO and the Executive Committee of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (IAPSAC). Francis has authored many publications. He has participated as a panelist on many TV talk shows on the safe utilisation of modern biotechnology and delivered several presentations on the same topic including Key Note addresses at professional, university and industry meetings at international and regional levels. Francis is a Kenyan.

Munyaradzi Jonga
Seeds Production Manager

Munyaradzi Jonga is an agronomist and seed production specialist with vast experience in agriculture and the seed sector, and a passion for seed sector development and management. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Crop Science as well as an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe. He has a Diploma in Marketing, Research Methods for Agronomists and has undertaken a Management Development course at the University of Cape Town as well as various courses on quality assurance and auditing of quality management systems. Munyaradzi got agricultural research and extension experience working in the fertiliser, crop chemicals and seed industries, where he gained understanding of various farming systems both in the smallholder and large scale farming sectors. He has worked as a Gazetted Seed Inspector, Seed Production & Quality Assurance Manager and Operations Manager for Seed Co Ltd. These appointments allowed Munyaradzi to participate in critical panels, committees, associations and seed systems networks dealing with seed production development and administration in Zimbabwe, Eastern and Southern Africa. Munyaradzi has contributed to agriculture and seed sector development through training of seed growers and seed industry personnel during formal workshop presentations and field training in east and southern African. During his tenure at Seed Co Ltd, he developed a practical seed production manual – “Maize Seed Production Manual 2002” – to assist upcoming seed growers and seed production personnel and supervised many internship students from various colleges and universities. Munyaradzi is a national of Zimbabwe.

Francis Onyekachi Nwankwo
Product Stewardship Manager

Francis Onyekachi Nwankwo is an action researcher with 11 years of practical quest to contribute to strengthening the livelihood of smallholder farmers by helping to increase their agricultural productivity and competitiveness thereby reducing hunger and poverty. He holds a B.Agric (Animal Science and Animal Health) from the University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, and a Masters in Human Development and Food Security from the University of Rome (Roma Tre). Before joining AATF, Francis worked for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture in Nigeria, and the National Association of Nigerian Traders, among other NGOs. Francis served in the ECOWAS Scientific Committee for the second ECOWAS Development Report and also worked as a consultant/resource person to the European Commission/Pro€Invest and the UN Women. At AATF, Francis is Product Stewardship Manager. Francis is a Nigerian national.

Sylvester Oikeh
WEMA Project Manager

Sylvester O. Oikeh has more than 18 years of interdisciplinary experience in research and development projects on natural resources and crop management, and plant nutrition. He joined AATF from the Africa Rice Centre, WARDA, where he worked for five years, rising to the position of a Principal Scientist/Soil Fertility Agronomist and Project Leader. As a Principal Scientist, Sylvester’s key duties included conducting strategic and applied research on integrated soil fertility management and plant nutrition to improve natural resources management and increase rice production in smallholder farming systems. He took part in multi-country donor-funded projects, backstopping national research systems scientists in west and eastern Africa, and supervising doctoral students, among other duties. Between 1990 and 2003, Sylvester held various positions at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), including as a GTZ Research Fellow, a consultant agronomist, and a visiting maize scientist involved in collaborative research investigating micronutrient enhancement of tropical maize. In 2001, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University’s USDA Plant, Soil and Nutrition Lab at Ithaca, New York, USA. Sylvester attained his doctorate in Soil Science specialising in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, in 1996. He obtained a Masters degree in Crop Science from the University of Nigeria, Nssuka, the same university from where he had graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture degree in Horticulture. Sylvester holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Irrigation Engineering from the Centre for Irrigation Engineering of the Katholieke universiteit, Leuven, Belgium. Besides research, he has lectured in Nigeria at the University of Benin (Soil Science) and Anambra State College of Education (Crop Production, Horticulture and Agricultural Economics). Sylvester is a national of Nigeria.

Kayode Abiola Sanni
Project Manager and Global Lead, Biotech Maize Seed System (BMSS) and Accelerating Bt Maize Adoption in Nigeria (ABMAN) Projects.

Kayode Abiola Sanni is an accomplished agricultural scientist and development leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in agricultural research and development, plant genetics and breeding, genetic resources management, and seed systems. He currently serves as Project Manager and Global Lead for the Biotech Maize Seed System (BMSS) and Accelerating Bt Maize Adoption in Nigeria (ABMAN) at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), where he provides strategic leadership to accelerate the adoption of TELA maize and to build a sustainable Biotech seed systems across Africa.

In this role, he drives the strengthening of public–private partnerships, fosters effective collaboration with private seed companies, and coordinates multi-country teams to deliver research, regulatory, and market development priorities, while generating lasting impact that boosts farmers’ productivity, increases incomes, improves livelihoods, and advances Africa’s food and nutritional security.

Earlier, as Hybrid Rice Project Manager at AATF, Kayode initiated the Alliance for Hybrid Rice in Africa (AHyRA), a landmark platform established to accelerate hybrid rice development and adoption across the continent. Under his leadership, Africa achieved the first indigenous 2-line hybrid rice varieties, with 10 hybrid rice varieties commercially released in Kenya. This groundbreaking milestone positioned AATF at the forefront of hybrid rice innovation in Africa, offering farmers access to higher yielding and more resilient rice varieties. He also served as the focal point of AATF to the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) and a member of its Steering Committee, where he contributed to shaping continental strategies for scaling rice production and supporting policy engagement with governments and development partners.

Prior to joining AATF, Kayode served as Head of the Genetic Resources Unit and Coordinator of the International Network for Genetic Evaluation of Rice in Africa (INGER-Africa) at AfricaRice, where he successfully led the collection, conservation, and utilization of rice genetic resources across the continent. He managed the international varietal evaluation and release program across 30 African countries, contributing directly to the registration and release of multiple rice varieties that have contributed strengthening food security on the continent. His work includes the comprehensive characterization and profiling of the over 2,500 accessions of the Africa cultivated rice specie (Oryza glaberrima) collection at AfricaRice which resulted in the use of the germplasm in breeding programs such as the selection of flood-tolerant rice that provided African farmers with resilient varieties capable of withstanding submergence stress and safeguarding yields under increasingly erratic climatic conditions.

He also represented AfricaRice at high-level policy and governance platforms, including the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and served as the Focal Point on all matters relating to genetic biodiversity and Intellectual Property Rights.  He was also an active member of the Inter-Center Working Group of CGIAR on Genetic Resources, where he contributed to global efforts on conservation, characterization, and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, strengthening international collaboration and advancing strategies for genetic diversity management in support of resilient agricultural systems.

His leadership supported national research systems through technical backstopping, postgraduate student supervision, and contributed to the establishment of varietal release systems in Benin, including the country’s first rice varietal catalogue.

Kayode’s career began at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria where he contributed to the Maize Breeding Program and the Genetic Resources Center, focusing on maize breeding and later the genetic profiling of IITA mandate crops.

He has also served in the Crop Technical Sub-Committee of the National Varietal Release Committee of Nigeria, contributing his expertise as an international rice specialist. In addition, he has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and technical resources that continue to influence agricultural research and innovation across Africa.

He holds a PhD in Plant Breeding from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; an MSc in Environmental Genetics, and a BSc in Agriculture (Soil Science), both from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His doctoral research focused on the New Rice for Africa (NERICA), after which he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in molecular biology under the Genetic Diversity and Improvement Program at Africa Rice.

Daniel Kyalo Willy
Senior Manager- RM and Sustainability Unit

Daniel Kyalo Willy is an accomplished agricultural economist with over 15 cumulative years of passionately working with smallholder farmers, particularly in designing and implementing inter-disciplinary agricultural research projects, household and market surveys and quantitative/qualitative data analysis. His research has mainly focused on sustainable agricultural intensification and productivity, technology adoption and transfer, impact assessment of agricultural technologies, institutional economic aspects of agriculture, agri-environmental interactions and agricultural value chains assessment. Daniel holds a Bsc. in Agricultural Economics (Egerton), an MSc. in Agricultural and Applied Economics (Egerton) and a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics (Bonn). Daniel’s accomplishment in scientific communication has been demonstrated through his publication record culminating into over 30 peer reviewed papers, conference papers, working papers, policy briefs and technical papers. Before joining AATF, Daniel was a lecturer and researcher at the department of Agricultural Economics, Kenyatta University. Previously, he was a Post-doc research fellow at the Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn-Germany, a research assistant at Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, technical assistant at AATF, and a graduate research assistant at both Egerton University and University of Bonn. Daniel has been instrumental in conducting research to support agricultural policy reforms in Africa such as reforms on land policies, agro-input marketing and input subsidies in Kenya, wetland resources management in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, among others. He has successfully supervised to graduation 12 MSc. students. Daniel held several administrative responsibilities at Kenyatta University at both school/faculty and departmental level. He is a member of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) and has consulted for the National Research Fund (NRF) – Kenya, Solidaridad East and Central Africa, BOKU University – Austria, and Michigan State University. As TAAT Policy Enabler Programme Officer, Daniel is responsible for implementing activities within the program towards facilitating the creation of an enabling environment for efficient deployment of high impact agricultural technologies in 9 value chains across over 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. His work includes policy analysis to identify policy, regulatory and institutional related bottlenecks on seed systems, agricultural input and output markets; engaging policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the elimination of these bottlenecks and administrative responsibilities related to project planning and fiduciary activities. Daniel is a Kenyan national.

David Tarus
Program Officer – OFAB

David Tarus holds an MSc degree in Managing the Environment: Risk Assessment of GM crops from the Aberystwyth University, Wales, and University of Adeline, Southern Australia BSc (Hons) degree in Agricultural Education and Extension from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

David also holds other professional training among them training in Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialisation from the University of California, Davis, USA, Project Planning, Management and Evaluation from the Institute for Capacity Development, Windhoek, Namibia, Certified Private Seed Inspector in Kenya, Lead Instructor for Preventive Controls for Human Food accredited by US-based Preventive Controls Alliance(FSPCA), Results Based Management training administered by Regional Centres for Learning and Evaluation of Results, Qualified ISO 9001:2015 on Quality Management Systems, Understanding and Implementation and Fertilizer Policy and Marketing Strategies in Africa.

Before joining AATF, David worked with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Trans Nzoia District, as an extension officer where he was instrumental in the implementation of both the National Agricultural and Livestock Extension Project (NALEP) and the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project (KAP) in the district. David has extensive experience spanning over a period of 13 years in policy, program coordination, partnership management, and international policy and regulations having worked in partnership-based collaborations across Africa, mainly gained at AATF in different project leadership and coordination roles involving multiple partners and stakeholders.

Working with partners, he has provided strategic leadership in several regional collaborative efforts in the development sector. He has been consulted by the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) under the auspices of its Biosafety Capacity Building Project for sub-Saharan Africa as an expert and adviser in bio-regulatory issues. Previous roles at AATF involved coordinating efforts in seed sub-sector policy and regulatory improvement in six countries of Africa, implementation of policy on use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides in six countries of Sub-Sahara Africa, and facilitation of regulatory aspects of aflatoxin control in maize and peanuts project in conjunction with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) and COMESA. David also coordinated food safety capacity enhancement efforts involving the private sector, regulators and policy makers, an effort that was implemented in Eastern and Western Africa.  David is a Kenyan national.

Caleb Obunyali
Programme Officer ,BMSS/ABMAN

Caleb Obunyali, a seed scientist, holds a BSc in Botany and a Master of Philosophy (MPhiL.) in Seed Science and Technology both from Moi University. Prior to joining AATF he worked as an Inspector at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) in seed certification and plant variety testing and protection. Before joining KEPHIS, he worked at the East African Herbarium Department, National Museums of Kenya, as a Research Fellow in Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity Conservation, and on the Seed for Life Project as an Assistant Project Officer. As Programme Officer for the BMSS/ABMAN project, Caleb is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of product delivery strategies, seed production, product deployment and quality management in target countries. Caleb is Kenyan.

Fredah Nyaga
Accountant

Fredah Nyaga holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance option) degree from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya. She is a registered member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Association of Women Accountants in Kenya (AWAK). Before Joining AATF, Fredah worked at Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) as a Senior Finance Officer. Previously she worked at Business Services Market Development Project (BSMDP) as a Project Finance Officer, at Tacco Consultants as Audit Assistant, and at Comtec Group Ltd as an Accounts Assistant. As an Accountant at AATF, Fredah is responsible for providing support in the execution of financial services for AATF projects and other institutional activities by ensuring integrity, effectiveness and transparent utilisation of financial resources. This includes, but is not limited to, preparation and maintenance of accurate, timely, complete and reliable periodical financial and management reports that comply with set company policies and procedures as well as development partners’ regulations. Fredah is a Kenyan national.

Fatuma Wario
Administrative & Events Coordinator

Fatuma Wario holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the Kenya Methodist University, a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Business Administration and Management from Kenya Institute of Management.

Before, joining AATF she worked with FARM Africa Regional office in Nairobi as an administrative secretary for seven years, the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development – AID (CORDAID) for a period of one year and with GTZ for four years as an administrative assistant. Fatuma is responsible for general office management, management of transport services, and events organisation among other administrative duties. She is Kenyan.

Abed Mathagu
Manager, Rwanda Agri-Biotech Project (RABP) and Programme Officer, Regulatory Affairs

Abed Mathagu holds a Bsc. degree in Forestry from Moi University in Kenya, a Msc. degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya and a Master’s degree in Biosafety from the University of Ancona in Italy. He is currently enrolled for a PhD program at the University of Nairobi in Kenya.

Before joining AATF, Abed was acting as the General Manager for Phytosanitary and Biosafety Services at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). He served in the National Biosafety Authority Board between 2010 and September 2014 as well as in its predecessor, the National Biosafety Committee from 2005 to 2009. Abed participated in the development of Kenya’s Biosafety Act and Regulations as well as in different institutional biosafety committees, including those of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). He participated in the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s Committee on Genetically Modified Food Labelling and Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Taskforce on Foods Derived from Biotechnology which developed the Codex Plant Guideline for GM Risk Assessment.

Abed chaired the Technical Committee on Biotechnology at the Kenya Bureau of Standards from 2009 to September 2014. He has wide experience in regulatory work.

At AATF he is the AATF Manager for the Rwanda Agribiotech Project and the Programme Officer, Regulatory Affairs. 

He is a citizen of Kenya.

Caroline Thande
Administrative Assistant

Caroline is an experienced Administrative Assistant with over 20 years of supporting international teams and multicultural stakeholders across Sub-Saharan Africa known for fostering collaborative environments, handling sensitive information with discretion, and delivering high-quality administrative support in fast-paced, multilingual settings.  She currently serves as the Administrative Assistant for the BMSS/ABMAN Projects, operating across Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Caroline is highly skilled in managing day-to-day office operations, coordinating meetings and events, and maintaining effective communication across departments and country teams- demonstrating strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and proficiency in digital tools to streamline workflows and ensure compliance with organizational policies. 

Core Competencies

• Office Administration & Scheduling
• Meeting & Event Coordination
• Stakeholder Communication & Support
• Document Preparation & Records Management
• Digital Collaboration Tools (e.g., SharePoint, Teams)
• Vendor Liaison & Budget Tracking
• Multilingual Work Environments (Fluent in English; Basic French)
• Regional Coordination Across Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique & Nigeria

Prior to joining AATF, she spent over 15 years at CARE International, where she supported operations in Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania, while being based in Nairobi. Her final role at CARE was as Administration Assistant and Executive Secretary to both the Country Director and Assistant Country Director. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Catholic Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga as a Secretary and Receptionist.  Caroline is a Kenyan national.

Prof. Jennifer Ann Thomson
Board Chair Emeritus

Prof. Jennifer Thomson has a BSc in zoology from the University of Cape Town, an MA in genetics from Cambridge University and a PhD in microbiology from Rhodes University in South Africa. She was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and spent a sabbatical year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was a lecturer, senior lecturer and Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa before starting and being the Director of the Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. She then became Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Cape Town (UCT), a post she held for 12 years until the Department merged with the Department of Biochemistry. She is now Emeritus Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UCT. Her main current research interests are in the development of maize resistant to the African endemic maize streak virus (MSV) and tolerant to drought. The MSV work has been shown in glasshouse trials to give excellent protection and was the first transgenic crop developed in Africa, by Africans for an African problem. Other positions held in the past include the Deputy Dean of Science at UCT, chair and member of the South African Genetic Engineering Committee, co-founder and chair of SA Women in Science and Engineering, and Vice-President of the SA Academy of Science. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and of UCT and Vice-Chair of the board of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA). She is a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation which advises the Minister of Science and Technology and chairs the South African chapter of the Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World. Honours received include the L’Oreal/UNESCO prize for Women in Science and an honorary doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris. She is a regular writer and speaker internationally on the subject of genetically modified organisms, especially crops and foods derived from them. These include addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos for two successive years, and the United Nations as the guest of Secretary General Kofi Annan. Her three books, Genes for Africa, Seeds for the Future and Food for Africa are geared towards the interested layperson.

Dr. Canisius Kanangire
Executive Director

Jacquine Kinyua
Executive Officer

Jacquine Kinyua has training in business administration and public relations. Before joining AATF, she worked with East African Foundry Works Group of Companies for ten years as an Executive Secretary to the Directors and as the Office Services Manager. Prior to that she worked with General Motors (K) Ltd in the Personnel Department for a period of one year; and with United Touring Company/Hertz Car Hire company for a period of less than one year. Jacquine is a Kenyan national.

Nancy Muchiri
Senior Manager, Communications and Partnerships

Nancy Muchiri is a public relations practitioner with an MSc in Organisational Development from the United States International University, Kenya; a BA from the University of Nairobi; and a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communications from the same university. She has also attended the Diploma in Management course at the Kenya Institute of Management, Nairobi. Before joining AATF, Nancy worked with the SOS Children’s Villages, an international child welfare organisation where she established and headed the fundraising and communications department for three years. Prior to that, she worked with the East African Portland Cement Company Ltd as head of the public relations section for eleven years, providing corporate and product communications leadership. Nancy is responsible for managing the Foundation’s public and partnership relationships through strategic communications to enhance visibility and positioning of the Foundation and its projects. Nancy is Kenyan.

Emmanuel Okogbenin
Director, Programme Development and Commercialization (PDC)

Emmanuel Okogbenin, a well-trained scientist in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics with good background in agronomy, and physiology, has experience spanning over 23 years working in and leading several research projects in cassava at both international agricultural research (IAR) centres and national agricultural research institutes (NARS). He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics/Plant Breeding from the University of Ibadan. He conducted his thesis research as a Rockefeller fellow with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Colombia. Emmanuel holds M.Sc. in Agronomy and B.Sc. in Agriculture (Crop Science) degrees from the same university. As part of his PhD programme, he took courses in statistical genetics at the North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Emmanuel, a pioneer scientist in cassava biotechnology research, led the CIAT team in QTL mapping studies on the crop. As a cassava breeder/geneticist at CIAT, he led the Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) initiative for cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistance resulting in the release of the first CMD resistant Latin American cassava varieties in Africa. He coordinated the activities of the CIAT Genetics Unit as part of his last duties in Colombia. Emmanuel has in the last few years pioneered Marker-Assisted Recurrent Selection (MARS) for drought tolerance and improved productivity of cassava in marginal drought prone ecologies in Africa, in addition to leading the cassava breeding community of practice in SSA under the platform of the CGIAR-Generation Challenge Programme (GCP). In the course of his career he has worked for IITA, Nigeria; CIAT, Colombia; NRCRI, Nigeria; CGIAR-GCP and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigeria. In the FMARD, he was a member of the ministerial core team for the cassava transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He has been a consultant and collaborator with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, USA on international projects in Africa. Emmanuel’s publications include journal articles, book chapters and conference papers presented at international and national meetings. As the Director of Programme Development and Commercialization (PDC), Emmanuel identifies opportunities for agricultural technology interventions, assesses the feasibility and probability of success of project concepts, identifies sources of appropriate technologies, negotiates their access and deployment, and provides overall leadership in the implementation of AATF’s project portfolio. Emmanuel is a national of Nigeria.