At JERSIC 2025: IRAD's Prof Justin Okolle wins prize of Best Senior Researcher.

He won the prize on Wednesday July 15, 2025 in Yaounde. This was during the solemn presentation of scientific research and innovation distinctions at the 9th edition of Excellence Days of Scientific Research and Innovation, known by its French acronym, JERSIC, organised by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation.

Prof Okolle received his prize from the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine Tchuinte, in the presence of the Director General of IRAD, Dr. Noé Woin. Meanwhile, Dr Cédric Chimi won the prize of Best Junior Researcher.

The research work submitted by Prof Okolle for the prize was titled “Population Dynamics and Management of Banana Mealybugs Pseudococcus Elisae (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Using Selected Biorationals in Cameroon”.

This is a joint research project carried out from 2020 to 2024 at the Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, FAVM, of the University of Buea. 

Although he presented this PhD research project for the award, Prof Okolle’s research on mealybugs started in 2007 when he was working as an entomologist in CARBAP Njombe. 

His researches with students and lecturers of Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, FASA, of the University of Dschang, COLTECH of the University of Bamenda, and FAVM of the University of Buea, have led to several studies carried out on mealybugs, including identification of mealybug species, ecological studies within the major banana plantations in Cameroon, weeds associated with mealybugs in banana plantations, role of banana bunch stalks thrown within fields. 

This also includes within field and within plant distribution, population dynamics, and test of management options, for example botanicals, microbes, and use of synthetic chemicals in the laboratory and in the field. 

All these studies on banana mealybugs from 2007 to 2025 in Cameroon have resulted to: supervision of 14 students from Universities of Dschang, Bamenda, Douala, Maroua and Buea (six for B.Sc, two Agricultural Engineer, one DEA in Crop Production, one DEA in Plant Biotechnology, two M.Sc in Crop Protection, one PhD in Crop Protection, and one Post-Doctoral Fellow in Crop Protection).

This has also led to Prof Okolle mentoring three researchers of IRAD who contributed in the writing and publication of articles; several smallholder farmers in and out of Cameroon have been sensitised and trained on best practices for the management pests on plantains and bananas; the publication of one book chapter and four scientific articles in peer-review journals; formulation of an organic pesticide (from the laboratory of Entomology at IRAD Ekona) for sucking insect pests such as white flies, mealybugs and aphids as well as serving as repellant for snails and slugs. 

The researcher has also been involved in the production of a microbe (Kosakonia) and a neem-based organic product (Orgamix) from the Rhizobiology Laboratory of the University of Buea.

Speaking to The Guardian Post after receiving his award, Prof Okolle said: “I am very happy for the award. My special thanks to the President of the Republic, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation and the Director General of IRAD, Dr. Noe Woin, and the Assistant Director General, Dr. Ngome Francis, for their support.  I also than my research team members, especially Prof. Ngosong Christopher and Dr. Becke Henry. For over 20 years I have worked on mealybugs that seriously infest banana plantations in Cameroon”.

Prof Justin Okolle, the man

The Associate Professor earned a B.Sc in Zoology from University of Buea in 1997 and M.Sc in Zoology/Entomology from the same university in 1999. He later had a PhD in Agriculture/Applied Entomology from University of Sains, Malaysia in 2007.

Prof Okolle has several awards to his credit. These include recipient of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, TWAS, Research Grant, 2012-2013; Oroko Person of the Month, November 2006, awarded by the Board of Oroko Cultural Association in Georgia, USA; Malaysian Commonwealth PhD Scholarship, 2003-2007 and Best Zoology M.Sc student, University of Buea in 1999.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3520 of Thursday July 31, 2025