Class of 2026

Professor Paiko obtained his PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Universiti Putra Malaysia, where he continues to maintain international research collaborations.

Across more than twenty-five years in academia, he has contributed to biotechnology education, research, innovation and university administration, served in strategic leadership roles, mentored researchers and attracted competitive research grants.

He is a widely published scholar, reviewer and editorial-board member who has contributed to national and international initiatives through the National Universities Commission, African Academy of Sciences and other professional bodies.

As Vice-Chancellor, he provides leadership in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. BSN confers on him the Fellowship in recognition of his contributions to biotechnology and higher education in Nigeria.

Mr. Ndirpaya holds an MSc from Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA, and a BSc in Agriculture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Before joining AATF, he served as East Africa Regional Coordinator for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme and as Director of the Plant Resources Department at the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

He has represented Nigeria as the only Sub-Saharan African voting member on the CGIAR System Board and served on the CGIAR Strategic Reference Group, TELA Maize Executive Advisory Board, and governing boards of NASC, NASENI and NIHORT.

His previous roles include Chief Scientific Officer with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Research Associate at ICRISAT-Nigeria, Research Fellow at IITA-Ibadan, Research Assistant at Old Dominion University and Adaptive Research Officer with Borno State ADP.

He is General Secretary of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, an immediate past General Secretary of BSN, a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria and a board member of the Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria.

Professor Ogbulie holds a PhD in Biotechnology and MSc and BSc degrees in Microbiology. She is a registered Environmental Specialist with the US National Registry of Environmental Professionals and has undertaken international fellowships and specialist training in Italy, China, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Germany.

She leads a bioremediation research team developing environmentally responsible approaches to polluted soil and water. Her molecular and OMICS-driven work on biosurfactant production and hydrocarbon degradation earned support through an NRF-TETFund grant.

At the Federal University of Technology Owerri, she directs the Centre for Research, Innovation and Development and serves as TETFund Desk Officer for Research and Innovation. Her previous leadership includes Deputy Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Deputy Dean of the Postgraduate School and three terms as Head of Biotechnology.

She has contributed to the World Bank African Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems, supervised postgraduate researchers and authored or co-authored 126 scientific publications, books and book chapters.