Lydia Jiwuba is a senior research scientist at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria and a research associate for the Nextgen Cassava breeding project. At the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, Lydia is the PI of the taro leaf blight project based in Nigeria. Her research interests include the use of biotechnology tools in the genetic improvement and production of cassava and cocoyam and also implementation of genomic selection.

She is an active researcher with many publications. In Nigeria, Lydia is currently managing large experimental fields in different locations. She is involved in molecular breeding, screening field pests and diseases, crossing and phenotypic selection, germplasm enhancement, designing field layout and data analysis, advancement and variety release. She has participated in the development and release of cassava varieties. She belongs to the core team running the scalable management system for market-oriented variety development in cassava at the National Root Crops Research Institute. She is a chartered member of Nigerian Institute of Management, member of the African Plant Breeders’ Association and member of the Nigerian Plant Breeders’ Association.

She received her Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics at West African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana with a thesis on “association mapping and stability analysis on effect of cassava green mite resistance in Manihot esculenta.”