COVIDSET Roots for Science, Engineering & Technology for
Africa's Development.
Discussions on how to harness the potentials of science,
technology and engineering to fast-tract Africa's development, was at the front
burner during the 6th African Regional Conference of
Vice-Chancellors and Deans of Science,
Engineering and Technology (COVIDSET) held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
The University of Nigeria hosted the conference for the first
time in Nigeria since the forum started in 2005 by the African Network of
Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI), supported by the UNESCO.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Nigeria, Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, thanked the Governing Council of
ANSTI for giving the University of Nigeria the opportunity to host the biennial
conference. Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/
Ozumba expressed delight that the conference was aimed at
preparing Africa to join the global race in science, technology and innovation.
“This effort will be realised by joining hands in
collaborative projects both within Africa and with those of other nations of
the world”, he said.
In his remark, the Chairman of ANSTI Governing Council and
former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Prof. George Magoha,
emphasised the need for African governments to invest more in science and
technology for speedy development of the continent. Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/
Prof. Magoha noted that for African countries to meet the
Millennium Development Goals, they have to prioritize science, technology and
engineering as major drivers of their economies. He expressed confidence that discussions at
the conference would yield measurable development outputs on the continent.
Presenting an overview of the conference, Dr. Peggy
Oti-Boateng, Science Program Specialist and ANSTI Coordinator, said there was
need to encourage African Students to study engineering in order to boost the
continent's chances of speedy development.
According to her, only one out of every 1000 students in
Africa pursues a career in engineering with fewer of them being women. Read
More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/
Dr. Peggy called on Universities to take advantage of the new
sustainable development agenda adopted
by the United Nations General Assembly in September, 2015, to forge
collaborations and partnerships that would enable them build the required human
capital for economic transformation of Africa.
In his address read at the conference, UNESCO Regional Director,
Prof Hurbert Gijzen, called on universities to revamp their curricula to make
them more relevant, responsive and market driven.
That, according to him,
would make universities in Africa drive the new Sustainable Development Goals adopted by
the United Nations, and develop “strong science to inform policy and for strong
policies for science”. Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/
The theme of the conference was “University Education and
Training in Science, Engineering and Technology in Africa-post 2015. Other
subthemes included: State of Science, Engineering, Technology Innovations
(SETI) Education in Africa: Challenges and opportunities, post 2015; Climate
Change and sustainable development: the role of research and universities in
Africa; making SETI relevant for youth employability post 2015; and Research
Commercialisation and higher education financing.
Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/
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