Zuma congratulates Karim on AU award

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma on Saturday congratulated Professor Salim Abdool Karim for receiving a science award from the African Union, the presidency said.

"His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has today, 31 January 2015, congratulated South African Professor Salim S Abdool Karim, for receiving the African Union's (AU) annual Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award in the field of earth and life science," said spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

Karim is the Pro Vice Chancellor of research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in SA.

"He has contributed to 30 years of research on the continent, especially in the field of HIV and Aids," said Maharaj.

In his acceptance speech, Karim said that Africa's scientists have an important role to play in scientific innovation and research, which will contribute to Africa's development and regional integration.

The awards ceremony took place at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The award was presented to Karim and a Cameroonian recipient by AU commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.