Kumasi, Oct. 9, GNA - Ms. Mary Nuako Bandoh, a Research Scientist at the Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has appealed to African women scientists to strive for excellence.

They should also collaborate, share experiences and focus on people-centred research work to help address the low technological advancement, poverty, hunger and diseases inhibiting Africa's development. Ms. Bandoh was interacting with agricultural students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Thursday. It was part of a programme put together by the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) to give Fellows the opportunity to interact with the youth and encourage them to aim at the top of their chosen careers.

Ms. Bandoh was made a Fellow of AWARD last year, having distinguished herself in rice research.

She called on women technocrats and scientists to at all times use their rich educational background, working experiences and expertise to assist the youth, especially females to overcome socio-economic and cultural barriers to their development.

She advised the students to maintain high moral standards in the pursuit of academic excellence reminding them that, indiscipline was "the greatest enemy of every student."