The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement on Monday May 6 – 10, 2019 successfully presented the 15 students of its 8th cohort to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Ghana for their PhD oral examinations. This was after the completion of a 1-year coursework at WACCI and a 3-year thesis research in the home countries of the students. External examiners from Agricultural Research for development, Kampala- Uganda, University of Ibadan-Nigeria, Crops Research Institute- Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology- Ghana, University of Port Harcourt- Nigeria, Obafemi-Awolowo University- Nigeria, University of Nairobi- Kenya, Al-Qalam University, Katsina- Nigeria, IER- Mali and other institutes participated in the oral examination of the students. All the students performed excellently and they received high praise for their individual works.
A group photograph of all 15 PhD Students
The names, countries and theses topics of the students are below:
OBENG-Bio Ebenezer, Ghana
Thesis title: Genetic Analysis of Grain Yield and other Traits of Early Maturing Provitamin A- Quality Protein Maize Inbred Lines in Contrasting Environments
DIATTA Elisabeth, Senegal
Thesis title: Genomic Study and Genetic Improvement of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] for High Protein Digestibility
SSEREMBA Godfrey, Uganda
Thesis title: Genetic Diversity and Breeding of Solanum aethiopicum, Shum Group for Drought Tolerance
MOHAMMED Saba Baba, Nigeria
Thesis title: Genetic Improvement of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) for Phosphorus Use Efficiency
DIANGAR Mouhamadou Moussa, Senegal
Thesis title: Breeding Options in Genetic and Genomic Resources to Improve Resilience to Striga [Strigagesnerioides (Wild.) Vatke] and Drought in Cowpea
UTOBLO Obaiya Grace, Nigeria
Thesis title: Genetic Studies and QTL Mapping of Drought Related Traits in a Sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas (L.) Bi-Parental Mapping Population
NGALAMU Tony, Sudan
Thesis title: Genetic Improvement of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) for Earliness and Drought Tolerance in South Sudan
MELOMEY Leander Dede, Ghana
Thesis title: Development of High Yielding Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Lines with Resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Disease (TYLCD).
DAWUD Maryam Abba, Nigeria
Thesis title: Genetic Improvement of Pearl Millet [Pennisetumglaucum (L.) R. Br.] for Resistance to Strigahermonthica
BARNOR Teye Michael, Ghana
Thesis title: Identification of Sources and Loci for Development of Soyabean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] Cultivars that Combine Bacterial Pustule and Seed Decay Resistance with High Pod Clearance
DEWA KassaMessanKoussakana, Togo
Thesis title: Genetic Improvement of Rice (Oryza Spp.) for Yield and Aroma in Togo
BANLA Essohouna, Togo
Thesis title: Characterization of Cultivated Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) and Genetic Analysis of Late Leaf Spot Resistance in Togo
SEYNI Diakite Ousmane, Niger
Thesis title: Breeding Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] for High Quality Stover for Niger
TCHALA Noudifoulé, Togo
Thesis title: Molecular Characterization and Heterosis of Extra-Early Maturing Orange Maize Inbred Lines Under Contrasting Environments
DADZIE Abu Mustapha, Ghana
Thesis title: Breeding Maize (Zea mays L.) for Resistance to Aflatoxin Accumulation in Ghana