Malawi’s Richard Mkandawire and Nigeria’s Umezuruike Linus Opara have been awarded with the inaugural Research and Innovation Competence in Agriculture Awards.

The two were awarded for their notable contributions to the research development and capacity building of Africa’s agriculture and food systems.

The awards were given by the Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA) and the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) during the Bank’s annual meetings in the Bahamas.

Mkandawire, the Africa Director at the Alliance for African Partnership, was awarded with the 'Impactful and Evidence based Policies Award' for his foundational role in conceptualising the Comprehensive African Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and catalysing its domestication in African countries.

Mkandawire is also the Chair for Malawi National Planning Commission, and the Former Head of CAADP at the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) where he was the principal architect in the design and adoption of CAADP.

Linus Opara Umezuruike, Distinguished Professor in Post-harvest Technology, Faculty of Agri-Sciences at Stellenbosch University, was awarded the 'Africa Research Excellence Award' in recognition of his contribution to developing and validating a novel integrated value chain approach to post harvest research, innovation and capacity building in Africa.

Umezuruike is also the Director of UNESCO Biotechnology Centre in Nigeria.

Umezuruike received $25,000 prize, while Mkandawire received $10,000 prize.