By ZENOYISE JOHN
20 April 2026 – The North West University (NWU) has marked a significant academic achievement after two of its leading scholars, Prof Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu and Prof Rasheed Adeleke, were awarded prestigious research chairs under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). The announcement was made at a high-profile national launch hosted by the National Research Foundation (NRF), placing the two academics among a select group of researchers tasked with advancing innovation and addressing the most pressing development challenges in South Africa.
The research chairs form part of the Decadal Plan Aligned Research Chairs initiative for historically disadvantaged universities, universities of technology and emerging institutions. A total of 41 new chairs were announced as part of the broader strategy of the government to address historical inequalities in the higher-education and research landscape.
The launch brought together senior government officials, university leaders, deputy vice-chancellors and international delegates, underscoring the national importance of the programme. Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, highlighted its transformative intent. Prof. Aremu, a research professor at the NWU, is widely recognised for his expertise in indigenous knowledge systems, ethnobotany and plant biotechnology, with a focus on improving the productivity and conservation of medicinal plants and food crops.
Reflecting on the recognition, he said: “This recognition is not just a personal milestone, but a reflection of years of collaborative work aimed at improving how we understand and utilise our rich plant diversity and systems. My research focuses on unlocking the potential of medicinal plants and food crops (often underutilised and neglected) through biotechnology, ensuring that we can enhance productivity while also preserving biodiversity and associated indigenous knowledge.”
He added: “With this platform, I will be able to expand research into plant biotechnology and indigenous practices and their role in seed germination and the development of indigenous plants. More importantly, it allows us (in collaboration with indigenous knowledge holders) to translate scientific findings into practical applications that can benefit farmers, traditional medicine practitioners and the broader agricultural sector.” Prof. Adeleke, a full professor of Microbiology at the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU, specialises in agricultural and environmental microbiology, including plant-microbe interactions and soil health.
Speaking on the achievement, he said: “This is exciting and shows that hard work pays off. It also affirms that the kind of research we are doing is relevant and making a difference.”
He added: “This will give me a bigger platform to do more and be more innovative. It allows us to strengthen collaborations, attract young researchers and build capacity in critical areas of agricultural microbiology.”
On impact, he said: “I target challenges faced by both commercial and small-scale farmers. Many of the issues they face – soil degradation, crop diseases and sustainability – can be addressed through understanding plant-microbe interactions and applying environmentally friendly solutions.”
“My focus is on sustainability and ensuring that people practise agriculture in a responsible manner. We need solutions that not only increase productivity but also protect our environment for future generations.”
NWU principal and vice-chancellor Prof. Bismark Tyobeka described the appointments as a proud institutional milestone, noting their alignment with the strategic focus of the university on agriculture and food security.
The university has invested in a state-of-the-art Living Lab for Sustainable Agriculture in Potchefstroom, with further expansion plans underway.
“Our Pienaarskraal Farm has also recently come into the national spotlight following the NWU Agriculture Farmers’ Day held on the Potchefstroom Campus. The event brought together stakeholders from across the agricultural sector. The work of these research chairs will complement the activities on our Molelwane Farm and Pienaarskraal Farm in both Mahikeng and Potchefstroom, where we have launched a joint collaborative project with the provincial government called the Agri Hub. Its objective is to capacitate farmers in the province with state-of-the-art methods in both animal and crop science, ultimately improving agricultural productivity in the region,” said Prof. Tyobeka.
He added that the NWU values the continued support of the NRF and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation in strengthening the research ecosystem in South Africa.
The SARChI programme remains a key national instrument for building research excellence, supporting postgraduate training and enhancing innovation capacity while addressing historical inequalities in higher education.
Source: ww.nwu.ac.za
The Guardian 