New and Emerging Researchers Group (NERG)

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Queen Elizabeth Scholars

During the reporting period, our NERGs have produced a number of laudable outcomes, have been given awards, and have achieved significant personal growth. We are also particularly proud that eight NERGs have received their PhDs. These are Bram Van Wiele, Caroline Mwaura and Desmond Oriakhogba at the University of Cape Town; and Sileshi Hirko, Uchenna Ugwu, Uche Ijoma, Ghazaleh Jerban, and Angela Yeboah at the University of Ottawa. In addition, one of our early NERGs, Alexandra Mogyoros, has been appointed as an Assistant Professor within the new Faculty of Law at Ryerson University. Esther Ngom has been elected as President of the Internet Society’s Cameroon Chapter, and is in the process of establishing her own research centre at the Université Catholique d’Afrique Centrale in Yaoundé. These are just a few of the many accomplishments of both our past and present NERGs, with more on the way.

Esther Ngom
was elected President of the Internet Society’s Cameroon Chapter

Jake Effoduh
was appointed to the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Frontier Risks

Abdelhamid Benhmade
was one of the winners of Global Affairs Canada’s International Policy Ideas Competition

Queen Elizabeth Scholars

In 2020, Open AIR hosted our largest number of Queen Elizabeth Scholars – Advanced Scholars (QES-AS) Fellows to date. While COVID-19 necessitated modifying many of our QES Fellows’ research, we have been pleased to see all the great achievements made despite the personal and professional challenges of the pandemic. New funding from the #QEScholars Advanced Scholars West Africa programme.