Page 58 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

Scientific Development Committee for the 15th
Prof O Okoh Microbial Water Quality Labs Tour.
Drs Msolo and Ebomah (Postdocs).
Group Photograph at the end of the review.
56 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25
Bi-annual General Meeting and Conference of the
African Academy of Sciences held in Abuja, Nigeria,
from 9–12 December 2024. He was also appointed
as a Mentor in the American Society of Microbiology
Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF)
Program (May 2024–April 2026) and was inducted as
a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences. Prof
Omobola O. Okoh delivered the 37th Professorial
Inaugural Lecture of the University of Fort Hare on
9 October 2024 and was awarded the 2024 Vice-
Chancellor Senior Research Medal by the Faculty of
Science and Agriculture. Dr N. Nontongana secured
her first NRF grant, while both Assoc Prof I. Jaja and Dr
Mike Ojemaye received NRF Y-ratings in recognition
of their research potential. Additionally, Dr Jaja was
promoted to Associate Professor effective 1 January
2025. The EMU successfully organized International
Microorganisms Day on 17 September 2024, as well
as the Science and Technology Research Partnership
for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) application
workshop on 11 October 2024 at the University of
Fort Hare, Alice.
Building Capacity Through
Training, Mentorship, and Support
Our unit continues to play a critical role in
nurturing and mentoring emerging academics and
researchers. Among those currently being mentored
are Dr Nolonwabo Nontongana, who serves as our
Deputy Director; Mr N. Manene, a lecturer currently