Fulbright Scholar and Norman Borlaug Fellow, Dr. Abdelaziz Lawani is a researcher and serial social entrepreneur whose work addresses some of the world’s most pressing problems. The social impact of his work earned him a spot among the 35 under 35 young innovators in francophone countries in 2016 and the Clinton Foundation honor roll in 2017. He founded Global Partners, a start-up that provides drone solutions for agriculture, land use planning, surveillance, and conservation of natural resources. He is also a founding member of Africa Goes Digital, a consortium of over 40 businesses that develop digital solutions in Africa. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Benin Flying Labs, a West African hub that uses robotics to address challenges faced by underserved populations at the local level.

Dr. Lawani’s work lies at the intersection of economics, agriculture, and artificial intelligence. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in Economics from North Carolina State University. Before his studies in the U.S., he earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology and a Bachelor’s in Agronomy in Benin, his home country.

Dr. Abdelaziz Lawani is currently a faculty member in the Department of Agriculture at Eastern Kentucky University, where he continues to translate his research into concrete solutions for development while promoting social enterprises across the African continent.