Ghanaian national, Dr Adusei Bofa has earned his PhD in Statistics from UKZN.
His research, supervised by Professor Temesgen Zewotir, concentrated on data driven statistical modelling for the critical issue of food security and nutrition in Africa.
His decision to pursue a PhD at UKZN was driven by the University’s exceptional reputation for research excellence and its strong dedication to tackling the unique challenges faced by the African continent.
Bofa’s research identified key components of food security, which include nutrient intake, average food supplied, consumption status, childcare, caloric losses, environment, undernourishment, food stability, dietary supply adequacy, and feeding practices among infants. This research is especially important as it equips governments and organisations with the data-driven knowledge to make informed decisions, even amidst scarce resources, thereby bridging the gap between research and practice.
Said Zewotir: ‘Adusei Bofa’s innovative classical and modern methodologies to determine the key drivers of food security and nutrition in Africa were demonstrated using spatial-temporal multitude datasets from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. Five of his scientific contributions in applied statistics have been published in high quality international journals.’
Bofa was inspired to pursue this research owing to a profound passion for finding solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of life for the people of Africa.
‘Food security is a fundamental human right and a vital foundation for sustainable development,’ he said.
Looking forward, Bofa intends to continue working in the field of food security, nutrition, environmental health and climate change using data science techniques. Currently, he is finalising his postdoctoral studies research project led by Zewotir and Professor Legesse Debusho (Unisa).
Bofa is particularly interested in engaging in projects that integrate technology and data science to develop innovative solutions for predicting and managing food insecurity. Additionally, he hopes to secure funding to establish community-based programmes that address food security at the grassroots level, ensuring that the research directly benefits those most affected by food insecurity.
Bofa attributes his success to the steadfast support of Zewotir as well as his family, who have been instrumental throughout his academic journey. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to Christian music, which helps him stay balanced and refreshed.
‘I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a significant field of research and hope that my work will inspire others to pursue studies that can make a meaningful impact on the world,’ he said.
Bofa’s guidance comes from the Bible verse, Matthew 7:7 – ‘As long as one keeps searching, answers come.’
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini