Nigeria | Cassava breeding

2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers: Chiedozie Egesi

Chiedozie Ngozi Egesi is a leading agricultural technology pioneer whose career is defined by transformative contributions to crop improvement, biotechnology and seed systems across Africa. As executive director and chief executive officer of the National Root Crops Research Institute in Nigeria, he provides scientific and institutional leadership, driving the integration of modern genomics, digital tools and biotechnology into national agricultural systems. His work has led to the release of dozens of improved cassava varieties, including biofortified, climate-resilient crops that directly benefit millions of smallholder farmers. Egesi translates cutting-edge science into scalable impact, pioneering the application of molecular breeding, genomic selection and gene editing in African staple crops. He played a key role in securing Nigeria’s first permit for field evaluation of genetically modified cassava. He is an exceptional global collaborator, partnering with institutions like Cornell University and IITA to strengthen research networks across Africa.