Crop Science Student Recipient of Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

BY: .

UKZN celebrated the exceptional achievement of postgraduate Crop Science student Mr Emmanuel Valentine who won the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.

This honour recognises academic excellence, strong leadership qualities, a commitment to community engagement and reconciliation, and a spirit of entrepreneurship.

Valentine’s academic journey began in Nigeria, where he graduated with First Class Honours from Kogi State University - a historic achievement as he was the first in his department to do so since its establishment in 1999. His passion for agricultural research led him to pursue postgraduate studies at UKZN, which enjoys a strong academic reputation, particularly in agricultural sciences and research aimed at Africa’s development.

“I wanted to study further at an institution that is friendly to international students, where I could access the resources needed to pursue research studies,” he said. “Studying at UKZN has been an intellectually and personally enriching experience. The diversity of thought, mentorship and support I received have helped me grow in confidence and clarity of purpose.”

Growing up in Opulega, a rural Nigerian community dependent on agriculture, Valentine saw firsthand the challenges faced by farmers using outdated farming practices, resulting in poor yields and food insecurity. These experiences shaped his decision to study agriculture. “Agriculture is at the heart of sustainable development in Africa,” he said. “My interest stems from a desire to contribute solutions to food insecurity, climate resilience and rural development.”

After completing his undergraduate studies in 2019, Valentine joined Babban Gona Farmer Services, an agritechnology company in northern Nigeria focused on improving smallholder farmers’ productivity. This experience inspired the launch of Farm4Us in 2021, an agribusiness platform that leases dormant arable land from rural owners for sustainable crop production. Now based in South Africa, he continues to manage the team in Nigeria, ensuring the platform supports farmers with extension services and innovative farming techniques.

Valentine has also remained actively involved in student leadership and volunteer work, serving as the Director of Events and Public Relations Officer for the National Association of Nigerian Students in South Africa (NANSSA), and Director of Socials for the Association of Nigerian Students (ANSU) at UKZN. These roles, he says, allow him to contribute meaningfully to youth empowerment and student engagement.

His pursuit of a Master’s in Agriculture qualification is driven by a long-term vision. “I plan to advance to PhD level,” he shared. “A deeper, research-driven inquiry is necessary to contribute meaningfully to addressing Africa’s food and nutrition security challenges.” He is particularly interested in integrating genomic tools and bioinformatics into crop improvement to enhance resilience in underutilised crops - a solution with the potential to transform food systems in arid and semi-arid regions.

After his studies, Valentine plans to upscale Farm4Us and continue his mission of empowering smallholder farmers. “Agriculture can drive dignity and transformation when done correctly. I want to use research-informed practices to improve farming, build resilience and mentor young people to see agriculture as a space for innovation and leadership,” he said.

Receiving the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship has been a significant milestone in his journey. “It is a profound honour. The scholarship affirms not only academic excellence but also a sense of purpose to lead and serve,” he reflected. “It challenges me to embody the values of humility, integrity and vision, just as Nelson Mandela did.”

He thanked those who supported him, particularly after being unsuccessful in his first application for the scholarship in 2023.

Said Valentine: “I’m grateful to my family for their unwavering belief in me, especially my mother, Mrs Victoria Valentine, for her prayers, and the UKZN community, especially my supervisor Professor Alfred Odindo for his fatherly mentorship, and my co-supervisor Dr William Musazura. I also thank my uncle, Professor Sunday Atawodi, and Professor Patrick Adejoh for supporting my journey.

“Above all, I thank God for the gift of life and the grace to be selected from among thousands - and as the only one from UKZN to have won the award.”

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Andile Ndlovu