Janet Samuel,Abuja
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) says recent scientific discoveries and innovations will be unveiled and discussed while hosting some 1000 outstanding thinkers and stakeholders from around the world, including policy stakeholders during its 15th Conference and General Assembly,
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, the Secretary General of AAS, Professor Friday Okonofua, who represented the President of the Academy, Professor Lise Korsten of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, said new fellows across the African continent will be inducted into the Academy, slated for December 9 to 12, in Abuja.
He said the conference, with the theme “Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise” promised to address critical issues in health, climate change, science diplomacy, agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy, and funding mechanisms.
Okonofua, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Benin, Benin City, said the conference will expectedly be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the President of the African Development Bank, Professor Akinwunmi Adesina, will deliver the keynote address.
According to him, the conference will feature prominent presenters that include, Professor Patrick Lumumba from Nairobi, Kenya, Professor Olubayi Olubayi from Uganda, and Professor Oyewale Tomori, current President of the West African of Science Academies.
“The 2024 Abuja Conference/General Assembly is the 5th in a row, and is being held for the first time in West Africa. The conference theme is: Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise. The AAS GA-2024 will unite some 1,000 outstanding thinkers and distinguished stakeholders from around the world, including policy stakeholders, regional science bodies, development partners, and key leaders in the continent. The conference will cover subthemes including: Health, climate change, science diplomacy, science Infrastructure, agriculture, social science and policy, the basic sciences, engineering, mechanisms digital and creative economy, and future funding.
“The conference will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the President of the African Development Bank, Professor Akinwunmi Adesina will deliver the keynote address. Other presenters who have accepted to deliver papers at the conference include Professor Patrick Lumumba from Nairobi, Kenya, Professor Olubayi Olubayi from Uganda, and Professor Oyewale Tomori, current President of the West African of Science Academies.
“During the conference, new Fellows will be admitted into the Academy, while the recipient of the Olusegun Obasanjo prize and other awards will be announced. We strongly believe that the outcomes of the conference hold great promise for re-positioning Africa to a new way of thinking about science and leveraging its potential to promote Africa’s development and its future.”
