Dr. Daniel Akinyele, a lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria, Dr. Ayansina Ayanlade, a Researcher and Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and Dr. Adanna Henri-Ukoha, a Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria have been announced as part of the first cohort of the Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science by The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
Towards arresting the future effect of climate change likewise managing its recent effect, AIMS awarded these researchers research grants to provide solutions to climate change problem. Over the next four years, AIM would further award a small research grant to 16 outstanding young African Researchers to fund projects that can contribute to strengthening climate change resilience on local and global scales.
Climate change issues in Africa and other parts of the globe cannot be overemphasized with it set to worsen in the nearest future. A United Nations report in October of this year revealed that the world only has 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe. Drought, reduced agricultural productivity, etc. are some of its effects on the continent that need to be confronted.
Prof. Wilfred Ndifon, AIMS Director of Research, said “Climate change is affecting all facets of society, contributing to lower agricultural productivity, a greater burden of diseases, and forced migration, among other consequences. African scientists, like the selected grantees, have a crucial role to play in providing solutions to the challenges posed by climate change. The small research grants program hopes to facilitate the provision of such solutions.”
The AIMS small research grant in climate change is part of the Mathematical Science for Climate Change Resilience (MS4CR) program bankrolled with a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre, alongside Global Affairs Canada.
Six grantees were announced as the cohort for the first AIMS small research grant in climate science with grantees being selected through rigorous review and selection process.
Other than the three Nigerian researchers that were awarded the research grant, Dr. Lindani Ncube, a Researcher at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Dr. Timothy Dube, a Senior Lecturer in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and Dr. Innocent Muhire, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda – College of Education were also awarded grants.
