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Our Governing Board: Vision and Impact
The Banistech Governing Board is composed of visionary leaders who bridge the gap between scientific innovation, industrial development, and sustainable impact. Their diverse expertise ensures that the institute remains at the forefront of the Green Gold Economy revolution.
Dr. (Mrs.) Precious Awesome Godswill — Founder & President
Title: Founder & President, Banana Institute of Science & Technology (BANISTECH) Expertise: Phytotherapy, Biotechnology, Agripreneurship, Green-Industry Innovation
Dr. (Mrs.) Precious Awesome Godswill—often referred to as The Empress—is the foundational visionary of BANISTECH. Her work is a powerful synthesis of science, nature, and industrial application, driven by a revolutionary premise: Africa can convert its abundant agricultural waste into wealth, health, and sustainable industrial power.
The Core Mission: Dr. Precious’s journey began with a commitment to transforming banana and plantain waste into industrial-grade resources. This pioneering focus on complete value addition—from food products and fibre technology to eco-friendly construction materials—laid the essential groundwork for BANISTECH, Africa’s first specialized institute dedicated to this Green Gold Economy.
Strategic Impact: As a leading voice in the Green Gold Economy, she has established a network of institutions, including Awesome God Agro Allied Industries Ltd (AGAAI) and the RĀSHĒ Industrial Empire, demonstrating that green manufacturing is both economically viable and socially transformative. Her innovations, such as Biochar & Charcoal Briquettes and Banana Fibre Boards, not only solve environmental problems but also create massive job opportunities, particularly for women and youth.
Vision for Banistech: Dr. Precious envisions Banistech as the catalyst for Africa’s economic independence, driving industrial growth, climate-smart innovation, and self-sufficiency through the smart transformation of agricultural resources. She is committed to fostering a new generation of agripreneurs and innovators who will harness the continent’s untapped wealth.
“Africa is sitting on untapped green gold. If we transform our agricultural resources wisely, we will feed ourselves, power our communities, and create a prosperous future for generations to come.”
Engr. Godswill Matthew – Co-Founder & Industrial Visionary
Title: Co-Founder, BANISTECH; CEO, Extragreen Harvest Industries Unlimited Expertise: Structural Engineering, Project Management, Technical Fabrication
Engr. Godswill Matthew, widely known as The Emperor, brings the essential discipline of structural engineering and industrial scale-up to the core vision of BANISTECH. His expertise ensures that the institute’s scientific breakthroughs are translated from laboratory concepts into robust, practical, and working enterprises capable of mass production and societal impact.
Bridging Science and Industry: As the Production Manager at Awesome God Agro Allied Industries Ltd (AGAAI) and CEO of Extragreen Harvest Industries, Engr. Godswill is the industrial architect who transforms the theoretical promise of green innovation into tangible, real-world solutions. He co-founded BANISTECH with the specific goal of integrating agricultural science with industrial engineering.
Pioneering Sustainable Construction: A driving force behind his board service is the ambitious dream of providing affordable housing for low-income families across Africa. He is pioneering the use of banana waste as a key raw material for next-generation construction innovations, including Fibre Cement Boards, Tiles, and Insulators. His philosophy is clear: Africa can house itself and build its future using the abundant resources found in its soil.
Contribution to Banistech: His combined experience in building construction, architectural design, and technical fabrication is critical to developing the manufacturing processes and systems necessary for Banistech’s technologies—ensuring that research leads directly to industrial growth and poverty alleviation.
Professor Martine ZANDJANAKOU-TACHIN – Academic & Scientific Authority
Title: Professor of Phytopathology & Molecular Biology; Banistech Governing Board Member Expertise: Phytopathology, Molecular Biology, Horticulture, Plant Health Management
Professor Martine ZANDJANAKOU-TACHIN serves as the vital link between Banistech’s innovative industrial applications and the rigorous standards of global agricultural science. A highly respected academic and researcher, her expertise ensures the institute’s research is scientifically sound, globally relevant, and focused on the most critical challenges facing tropical crops.
Scientific Leadership: Drawing on a distinguished career that includes a Ph.D. in Phytopathology & Molecular Biology (IITA-Ibadan) and leadership roles as Former Director of EDSAE and EHAEV at the Université Nationale d’Agriculture (UNA), Benin, Professor ZANDJANAKOU-TACHIN brings institutional knowledge and academic gravitas to the board.
Safeguarding Crop Security: Her specialized research focuses on critical threats to crop security, particularly the banana bunchy top virus disease (BBTV) and advanced pest management strategies in West Africa. Her contributions are essential to developing the resistant banana varieties and sustainable crop protection systems that form the bedrock of Banistech’s mandate.
Building Scientific Capacity: Beyond her research contributions, Professor ZANDJANAKOU-TACHIN has dedicated her career to mentoring the next generation, having supervised over 50 students and published over 50 scientific papers. Her involvement ensures that Banistech is not only innovating but also building the necessary scientific capacity and academic integrity to sustain the Green Gold Economy movement.