Establish grassroots genomics and bioinformatics programs to train 400 Africans yearly
Authors: Sharaf Abdoallah , Nesengani Lucky Tendani , Hayah Ichrak , Kuja Josiah O. , Mdyogolo Sinebongo , Omotoriogun Taiwo Crossby , Odogwu Blessing A. , Beedessee Girish , Smith Rae Marvin , Barakat Abdelhamid , Moila Acclaim M. , Hamouchi Adil El , BenKahla Alia , Boukteb Amal , Elmouhtadi Amine , Mafwila Antoine Lusala , Abushady Asmaa M. , Elsherif Assem K , Ahmed Bulbul , Wairuri Charles , Ndiribe Charlotte C. , Ebuzome Chukwuike , Kinnear Craig J , Ndlovu Deborah-Fay , Iraqi Driss , Fahime Elmostafa El , Assefa Ermias , Ouardi Faissal , Belharfi Fatima Zohra , Tmimi Fatimzohra , Markey Fatu J. Badiane , Radouani Fouzia , Zeukeng Francis , Mvumbi Georges Lelo , Ganesan Hamilton , Mariem Hanachi , Negussie Helen , Charoute Hicham , Benamri Ichrak , Mkedder Ikram , Haddadi Imane , Meftah-Kadmiri Issam , Mubiru Jackson Franco , Entfellner Jean-Baka Kodjo Domelevo , Rokani Joan Bayowa , Ogwang Joel , Daiga Jude Bigoga , Omumbo Judy , Ideozu Justin Eze , Errafii1 Khaoula , Labuschagne Kim , Komi Komi Koukoura , Tonfack Libert Brice , Hadjeras Lydia , Ramantswana Madeleine , Chaisi Mamohale , Botes Marietjie W , Kilian Mariëtte , Kvas Marija , Melloul Marouane , Chaouch Melek , Khyatti Meriem , Abdo Michael , Muchemenye Mmatshepho Phasha- , Hijri Mohamed , Mediouni Mohammed Rida , Hassan Mohammed Ahmed , Piro Mohammed , Mwale Monica , Maaloum Mossaab , Mavhunga Mudzuli , Olivier Nicholas Abraham , Aminou Oumaima , Arbani Oumayma , Souiai Oussema , Djocgoue Pierre François , Mentag Rachid , Zipfel Renate Dorothea , Tata Rolland Bantar , Megnekou Rosette , Muzemil Sadik , Paez Sadye , Salifu Samson Pandam , Kagame Samuel Paul , Selka Sarra , Edwards Sean , Gaouar Semir Bechir Suheil , Reda Shaimaa R , Fellahi Siham , Khayi Slimane , Ayed Soumia , Madisha Thabang , Sahil Tulsi , Udensi Ogbuagu Ugorji , Ras Verena , Ezebuiro Victor , Duru Vincent C. , David Xavier , Geberemichael Yonas , Tchiechoua Yves H. , Mungloo-Dilmohamud Zahra , Chen Zhiliang , Happi Christian , Kariuki Thomas , Ziyomo Cathrine , Djikeng Appolinaire , Osuji Julian O. , Badaoui Bouabid , Mapholi Ntanganedzeni , Muigai Anne W.T. , Ebenezer ThankGod E. 
Published: January 2024

In 2022, around 54 % of African students were denied student visas to study in the United States (US), compared to 36 % of Asian students and 9 % of European students, despite African immigrants in the US often being more highly educated than the US native-born population. This issue cannot be attributed solely to the dichotomy between the Global North and South in visa regimes, but it is also evident among African nations across regional economic blocs. The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, which aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops, prioritizes grassroots knowledge exchange and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we orchestrated the implementation of 27 capacity building workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 10 African countries across 5 African geographical regions. The AfricaBP Open Institute regional workshops raised awareness of biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics among 3788 registered participants, and trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics techniques. Here, we discuss the implementation of transformative strategies by deploying the AfricaBP Open Institute multi-country, multi-institution, and multi-partner hybrid regional workshop model, including the proposed creation of an African digital database containing sequence information relating to biodiversity and agriculture.