The award was officially announced on December 26, 2025, and is jointly founded by the Global Ambassadors of Sustainability and the Global Green Chamber of Commerce. It celebrates visionaries, innovators, and global leaders whose impactful initiatives and research are helping to shape a healthier and greener planet.

Dr. Hirwa becomes the first Rwandan to receive this honor, joining a select group of 90 awardees worldwide recognized for their dedication and significant contributions toward a sustainable future.

Speaking in an interview with UKWELITIMES, Dr. Hirwa expressed deep gratitude and pride for the recognition.

“I am extremely happy and deeply honored to receive the Global Sustainability Champions Award,” Dr. Hirwa said. “This award is not only a personal achievement, but also a recognition of the importance of sustainability science in addressing global environmental challenges.”

Asked what the award means to him as a Rwandan scientist, Dr. Hirwa emphasized its broader significance: “Being the first Rwandan to receive this award means a great deal to me. It shows that research and innovation from Africa can compete and contribute meaningfully at the global level,” he noted. “I hope this inspires young scientists back home to believe in their potential.”

Currently, Dr. Hirwa serves as Assistant Director of the Sustainability Institute and Adjunct Instructor at the School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, in Tallahassee, United States. His academic and research background is rooted in Ecology, with a specialization in dryland ecosystem management and food systems.

Over the past several years, Dr. Hirwa has received multiple prestigious honors. In 2019, he was awarded the CAS-TWAS President’s Fellowship, one of the most competitive global research fellowships, jointly administered by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), an institution affiliated with UNESCO. The fellowship is reserved for scientists who demonstrate exceptional research excellence, originality, and long-term impact.

Since 2017, Dr. Hirwa has authored and co-authored more than 50 scientific publications, underscoring his significant contribution to environmental sciences and sustainable agriculture. Currently, he is leading a special journal issue titled “Agroecosystem Resilience in Marginal and Underutilized Lands: Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Management.” The initiative calls on scholars worldwide to submit original research articles, reviews, case studies, and perspectives that advance sustainable agroecosystem management.

Beyond his academic work, Dr. Hirwa is a strong advocate for youth empowerment in science. He urges young scientists to pursue goals that create tangible societal impact, emphasizing that in the era of rapidly emerging technologies, the next generation must challenge boundaries by thinking not only outside the box, but far beyond it.