May 2025: Professor Tebello Nyokong – African Female Researcher of the Month

Illustrative Image: May 2025: Professor Tebello Nyokong – African Female Researcher of the Month
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May 2025: Professor Tebello Nyokong – African Female Researcher of the Month

Biography and Early Life

Professor Tebello Nyokong, OMB, FRS, HonFRSC, FRSSAf, is one of Africa’s most distinguished scientists and an international leader in the field of chemistry and nanotechnology. Born on 20 October 1951 in Maseru, Lesotho, she grew up under challenging circumstances, spending much of her childhood herding sheep in the mountains while attending school intermittently. Despite these hardships, her academic determination and early talent for mathematics and science set the foundation for an illustrious career that continues to inspire generations across the globe.

Initially pursuing art, Nyokong switched to science two years before matric, eventually earning her BSc in Chemistry and Biology from the National University of Lesotho (1977), followed by an MSc in Chemistry from McMaster University, Canada (1981), and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario (1987). She later undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Notre Dame in the USA under a Fulbright Fellowship.

Academic and Research Career

Professor Nyokong joined Rhodes University in 1992, where she rapidly rose through the ranks from lecturer to Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. She currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation and holds the prestigious Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation (DSI/NRF) Research Chair in Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology.

Her research is internationally acclaimed, particularly in:

• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): An alternative cancer treatment that uses light-sensitive drugs (photosensitizers) activated by light to destroy cancer cells without the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.

• Nanotechnology for Health Innovation: Development of multifunctional nanodrugs combining diagnostics and therapy (“theranostics”), using metallic, magnetic, or semiconductor nanoparticles linked to photoactive phthalocyanines for targeted drug delivery.

• Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Exploring hybrid materials as photocatalysts that provide therapeutic value and microbial resistance while avoiding environmental harm.

With over 950 scholarly publications, including journal articles, book chapters, patents, and an edited book, Professor Nyokong ranks among the most prolific scientists in South Africa. In 2007, she was recognized as one of the top three publishing scientists in South Africa. She has supervised and mentored over 170 MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral students, nurturing a new generation of African scientists.

Leadership and Global Engagement

Professor Nyokong has been at the forefront of advancing science and innovation not only in South Africa but also across the developing world. She has played key advisory roles on global platforms, including

• Member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel for developing support mechanisms for least developed countries.

• Appointed by the UNESCO Director-General to the High-Level Panel on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development.

Through these roles, she has contributed to shaping global policy on science, technology, and sustainable development.

Awards and Honors

Professor Nyokong’s groundbreaking research and leadership have earned her numerous national and international accolades, affirming her as a trailblazer in science. Some of her most prestigious honors include:

• Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze (OMB) – South Africa’s highest national honor, awarded for exceptional achievements in science.

• L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2009) – Representing Africa and the Arab States, recognizing her pioneering contributions to cancer therapy research.

• African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award for Scientific Excellence (2016) – Continental recognition for outstanding contributions to basic science, technology, and innovation.

• Honorary Doctorates from McMaster University and Western University, Canada.

• Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).

• Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) – one of the most prestigious recognitions in science, marking her as a global leader in her field.

• South African Chemical Institute Gold Medal (2012).

• National Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2013).

• BSTEP Excellence Award (2017).

• Linstead Lifetime Career Award in phthalocyanine chemistry.

In addition, she has been celebrated in cultural and artistic spaces, such as being featured in Adrian Steirn’s 21 Icons Project, which depicted her journey from shepherd girl to globally celebrated scientist.

Impact and Legacy

Professor Nyokong’s career stands as a testament to resilience, excellence, and the power of science to transform lives. Her journey from humble beginnings in rural Lesotho to becoming a globally recognized scientist and FRS laureate reflects her commitment to breaking barriers for women and African scientists in STEM.

Through her research, mentorship, and leadership, she continues to address some of the world’s greatest health challenges—cancer treatment and antimicrobial resistance—while strengthening Africa’s scientific innovation ecosystem.

Her legacy is not only in her pioneering discoveries but also in the scientific community she has built, the policies she has shaped, and the inspiration she provides for young scientists, especially women, across Africa and beyond.

Professor Tebello Nyokong remains a beacon of scientific excellence, a mentor to many, and one of Africa’s most decorated and influential chemists of the 21st century.