Nagib Nassar (85) Born in Egypt in 1938, graduated in Agronomy with Cairo University, 1958, and, Ph. D., Genetics with the University of Alexandria, 1972. He taught tropical crops with the Institute of African studies & research, Cairo University untill 1974. In the same year came to Brazil by the invitation of the Brazilian ministry of Foreign Relations where he began his work on cassava breeding up to this date, initially with the support of IDRC(1975-1976), and later with the help of The Brazilian National council for Scientific development (CNPq).

In addition to tropical crops, Nagib taught horticulture, evolution, biodiversity and plant breeding. He introduced courses of these disciplines to the post graduate programs of the Federal University of Goias, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Viçosa, Brasilia and the Pan American Center CATIE. His work on cassava improvement continued up to this date ( 46 years). His cultivars planted in all over brazil and his innovative technique of breacking interspecific barriers, development of apomictic clones, and periclinal chimeras are cited andv followed by scientist all over the world. . The renomed Advanced of Agronomy has compiled 25 years studies of cassava genetic resources in its publication of 1999, vol. 69 and Scientific American projected in 2010.

Nassar and co-workers developed the first apomictic clone of cassava (Can J. Plant Sci., 1995, 1997), and later in Hereditas (2000, 2001). He produced the first interspecific hybrid of cassava having the double of protein content (Nassar et al 1977 in Experientia, (Basel ) and Nassar and Dorea, Turrialba,1982) and first most productive cassava periclinal chimera(2013). IDRC projected his contribution to cassava in Africa in his report as follows https://www.idrc.ca/en/article/better-cassava-boosts-food-security?PublicationID=163.

In 2014 He received Kuwait prize from KFAS ( 100.000 ,00 US $)which he dedicated plus his own resources to found foundation Nagib Nassar for Scientific development - FUNAGIB. The foundations aims to buid up a cadre of cassava breeders in African countries sub sahara and in Brazil offers annualy scholarship´s to African and Brazilian cassava post graduate students see acknowkledgment of graduates.
http://funagib.geneconserve.pro.br/docs/noticias/acknowledgement_and_gratitude.pdf

Links to his contribuitions mentioned above:

1. IRDC reports
2. Better cassava boosts food security
3. List of Publications and Reprints
4. IITA Acknowledgments 2022 and IITA Acknowledgments 2004