By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

A distinguished Nigerian scientist from Borno State, Dr. Wadzani Dauda Palnam, has been ranked among Africa’s Top 10 Most Cited Researchers in the fields of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, marking a remarkable milestone in continental and global scholarship.

Dr. Palnam, a Molecular Plant Pathologist and Senior Lecturer at the Federal University Gashua, Yobe State,according to a statement, has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications as of May 2025, with his cutting-edge research influencing plant disease control, food security, and molecular diagnostics across Africa and beyond.

According to a research statement issued in Kaduna, the Elsevier’s SciVal/SCOPUS platform named Dr. Palnam the 10th most-cited researcher in Africa across two major fields: Biological Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. He was also listed among the Top 500 Global Authors in five interconnected disciplines — Agricultural Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology.

His pioneering studies, which include CRISPR-based resistance strategies in rice and the characterization of Rhizoctonia solani, have gained international collaboration with institutions such as Wageningen University (Netherlands), AfricaRice, UC Davis (USA), and KRIBB (South Korea).

Beyond his laboratory achievements, Dr. Palnam serves as Director of Training and Development at the Academic and Grant Writing Enclave (AGE) and its affiliate, AGES, where he has helped train over 23,500 researchers from 153 countries, including nearly 600 professors and 7,000 PhD holders.

In 2024 alone, AGE facilitated ₦2.05 billion in TETFund National Research Fund grants for 41 Nigerian researchers.

A proud Marghi son from Askira/Uba LGA, Dr. Palnam began his academic journey at Government College Maiduguri, later obtaining a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Pathology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

Known as a mentor and curriculum innovator, Dr. Palnam has supervised more than 15 postgraduate students, led institutional reforms, and served on editorial boards of top-tier journals including PLOS ONE, Frontiers in Genome Editing, and publications under Taylor & Francis and Springer Nature.

Reacting to the achievement, his Head of Department, Dr. Ishaku James Dantata, said: “Yet beyond the metrics lies something more profound: his humanity, team spirit, mentorship, and commitment to African scholarship.”

Also commending him, the university’s Registrar, Dr. Abubakar Mamuda, noted: “His contributions inspire both colleagues and students to strive for excellence. Achievements like this raise the bar for academic and scientific inquiry across Africa.”

Despite lucrative international offers for postdoctoral research from institutions in the United States, Israel, and Czech Republic, Dr. Palnam chose to stay committed to advancing science in Africa.

Described as a “beacon of light” by Hamman Ezekiel Pwana, Esq., Legal Adviser of AGE, Dr. Palnam continues to influence the next generation through active science communication, with over 8,000 followers on LinkedIn.

His Ph.D. supervisor, Prof. Amolkumar U. Solanke, summed it up: “His precision in experimentation and visionary thinking have propelled him into global leadership in plant pathology.”

In an era where Africa’s scientific contributions are increasingly crucial to solving global problems, Dr. Palnam’s story is a stirring testament that from the heart of Borno State, scientific giants can emerge and lead.