Prof. Olubukola O. Babalola Pr.Sci.Nat. holds a PhD in Microbiology. She is a National Research Foundation rated established scientist. She had postdoctoral experiences from Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Babalola is a trainer of trainees and many postgraduate students have graduated under her mentorship. She is the Vice President for OWSD, the Director of the Food Security and Safety Focus Area, and previous HOD at the North-West University, South Africa. Her research interest is in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. Babalola leads a research team of over a dozen scholars from different tribes and tongues. She is into a prolific career with research outputs. She enjoys international collaborations, research grants and many awards.
Dr. Ayansina Segun Ayangbenro is an extraordinary Senior lecturer at North-West University, South Africa. He is a recipient of TWAS/NRF African Renaissance Doctoral Scholarship and the NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. His research interest lies at the intersection of microbiology, environmental science, and sustainable agricultural practices, which is essential in tackling environmental issues including pollution, biodiversity preservation, and climate change mitigation on crop production. Ayansina has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed journal articles published in reputable national and international journals.