Three Cameroonians among 30 brilliant African scientists.

Three Cameroonian researchers have been named among 30 brilliant African scientists retained as winners of the 2023 edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize.

The L'Oréal Foundation and United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO released the names of the winners yesterday.

The Cameroonian researchers named among the winners include, Fanta Sabina Adeline Yadang, Hadidjatou Dairou and Lydie Messado Kamga.

Fanta Sabina is post-doctoral researcher in neuroscience and her research work is titled: “Exploring medicinal solutions for neurodegenerative diseases”.

On her part, Hadidjatou Dairou is doctoral student in cellular physiology and her work focuses on: “Treating cardiovascular diseases thanks to the power of indigenous plants” 

The third laureate, Lydie Messado Kamga is a doctoral student in ecology. Her research work is on “Preserving orchids in Cameroonian tropical forests”.

30 best research proposals retained from 632 applications

The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent Prize which rewards and supports African women scientists for the quality of their scientific research is in its 14th edition this year. 

A total of 632 researchers submitted their applications for the prize. The quality and scope of their scientific work by was judged by a jury of 10 members chaired by Professor Aggrey Ambali.

Prof Ambali is Director of Technical Cooperation and Program Financing at the Union Development Agency African, AUDA-NEPAD. 

At the end, the 30 best, including 25 doctoral students and five post-doctoral researchers from 17 African countries were retained.

This year, the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO wanted to strengthen their commitment to gender equality in science, and reward 30 young and talented researchers, i.e. 10 prizes more than in previous years. 

Bringing hope and innovative solutions for the African continent, the 30 scientists of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science 2023 Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Prize are engaged in multiple areas of research. 

Thanks to new approaches, they address major challenges with the aim of improving the quality of life in Africa and around the world.

The thirty Young Talents of 2023 - biochemists, epidemiologists, ecologists, artificial intelligence experts and public health specialists - are all determined to find sustainable solutions to Africa's various challenges.

Winners to be rewarded today

The 30 winners retained will today be rewarded during the annual ceremony which will take place in Kasane, Botswana.

Bostawana President, Mokgweetsi Masisi will honour the ceremony with his presence. Prior to the today’s event, the young talents yesterday met with the first lady of Botswana, Ms. Exc. Ms. Neo Jane Masisi, and over 150 high school students for an intergenerational conversation and knowledge exchange that will pave the way for a brighter future in science.

About the L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa program

Created in 2000, the national and regional L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talent programs award more than 250 research grants each year in more than 110 countries.

The program allows its winners to benefit from financial support to carry out their research projects – via research grants of €10,000 for doctoral students and of €15,000 for post-doctoral researchers

Their goal is to enable women scientists to pursue their careers and, more generally, to promote and highlight the crucial importance of women in science.

“UNESCO is deeply committed to supporting gender equality in science for the benefit of society and to championing scientific excellence worldwide. Over the 25 years of our partnership with the L’Oréal Foundation, we have selected and rewarded more than 4,100 women scientists, at different stages of their careers, for their exceptional contribution to scientific progress. L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents are the very future of science…,” said Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General for Science at UNESCO.

On its part, the L’Oréal Foundation is committed to supporting women to enable them to express their potential, regain control of their destiny and have a positive impact on society, through three areas of intervention: scientific research, inclusive beauty, and climate change.

The Young Talents of the 2023 edition will join the community of more than 200 African researchers who have been supported and honored since the creation of this regional program in 2010.