…EU commits €37m to RENS
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has charged African countries on greater cooperation in harnessing the power of research and education without which the continent cannot move forward.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman made this call while declaring open the 2024 edition of the West African and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN 2024) Conference in Abuja.
According to the Minister, “We must harness the power of research and education to propel the African continent forward. Whether it is in the fields of healthcare, technology, conference, agriculture, or governance.
The Minister underscored the transformative power of collaboration and innovation, emphasizing that the development of Africa depends on the output of her research works adding that education was the cornerstone of development, upon which nations build their future.
“We also recognise the transformative power of education in shaping lives, through innovation and fostering sustainable development, he said.
He further emphasized the importance of leveraging initiatives like the WACREN conference to strengthen regional ties and build networks that transcend geographical boundaries.
Prof Mamman called for collective efforts to advance education and research in West and Central Africa, recognizing the potential for innovative minds and scholarly endeavours to provide solutions to pressing issues.
He also highlighted the Federal Ministry of Education’s roadmap to transform the educational system of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism about the future of the country’s education sector and calling for support from stakeholders across the African continent.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Maiyaki, while speaking on the conference theme, “Forging Future High Education and Research Communities,” emphasised the need for proactive, innovative, and forward-thinking approaches to teaching, learning, and research. He encouraged participants to embrace digital transformation, foster collaboration, and cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among students and faculty.
Maiyaki’s remarks highlighted the importance of preparing higher education and research communities for the challenges and opportunities ahead, calling for engagement in thought-provoking discussions, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to common challenges.
He emphasized the collective efforts needed to shape a brighter future for generations to come, encouraging active participation and networking among participants.
“I encourage all participants to actively engage in sessions, network with their peers and seize the opportunity to contribute their expertise and insight to the discussions, together we can forge stronger more resilient higher education and research communities that are capable of shaping a brighter future for generations to come.”
Also at the conference, The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Samuela Isopi disclosed that her organization has earmarked the sum of €37 million to assist African and Arab nations to digitalise education and research.
Speaking through the First Secretary, Team Leader Human Development Delegation of EU to Nigeria, Leila Mathieu, she said the EU would enable Africa/Europe digital partnership.
“As European Commission, we are committed to continue supporting the digital transformation of the education and research and innovation sectors in Africa, and to increase the capacity of Research and Education Networks (RENs) to deliver to their member institutions.
“We will do this in full complementarity with other programmes on regulatory support and connectivity investments for a comprehensive Africa-Europe digital partnership.
“We aim at fostering our digital partnership with Africa by promoting access to high-quality, affordable and secure digital infrastructure by supporting the set-up of policy frameworks, and by fostering digital skills and entrepreneurship.
“One of our key objectives is to support the strengthening of research and education systems and to establish strong links between Europe and Africa in these sectors.
“Since 2011, the European Union has been supporting through our Africa Connect projects, the creation, consolidation and interconnection of Research and Education Networks in Africa and in Arab countries, supporting and working closely with our regional partners WACREN, ASREN, Ubuntu Net Alliance and our European partner GEANT.
“This project is currently at its third phase with a total budget of €37.5 million. Remarkable progress has been achieved, providing meaningful connectivity and services to over 1,700 institutions and 4.5 million end-users.”
She also noted that at the national level, the delegation of the EU to Nigeria was supporting the digital transformation of the country and its vibrant community of digital entrepreneurs, through various projects, adding that the EU was also supporting education at all levels, as well as science and innovation.
This, she stated, was with the hope to help Nigerian academics, institutions and scientists better access its competitive global funds, such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus for Nigeria to take its rightful position in international science and academia, fostering better and closer collaboration with European academic and research institutions.
The Chief Executive Officer of WACREN, Dr. Boubakar Barry, on his part thanked their partners for the success achieved so far.
“Our successes would not have been partly possible without our partners here present to whom I extend my warmest thanks, more particularly, the European Commission for its multifaceted support.
“I have not forgotten the French Development Agency (AFD) for its support of the Africa Digital Campus project in our region.
“We also look forward to strengthening our cooperation with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the years to come.
“I also thank the World Bank, which has been instrumental in enabling new NRENs to be connected to the WACREN backbone network,” he said.
Closing the week-long event, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgRen), Dr Joshua Atah described the conference as successful. This he said were in terms of engagement in thought-provoking discussions, shared best practices, and forging meaningful connections.
“We have explored innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and research, and we have identified opportunities for collaboration and partnership that will shape the future of higher education in West and Central Africa.
“I am particularly encouraged by the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie that has characterised our interactions over the past few days. Despite the diverse backgrounds and perspectives represented in this room, we have come together with a shared vision and a shared commitment to excellence”, he said.
He urged participants to remain committed to the principles of innovation and collaboration that have been at the heart of the discussions.
“The challenges facing higher education and research in our region are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By leveraging our collective expertise and resources, I believe that we can build a future where education catalyses positive change and sustainable development.
“I therefore urge each of you to continue the conversations that we have started here and to remain steadfast in your commitment to excellence”, he added.
Atah thanked every one for their participation and contributions to the conference; “from WACREN, GEANT, Amazon Web Services, National Open University of Nigeria, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC), Africa Connect 3, IXPN, Infrafocus Technologies, ORCID and LIQUID Intelligent Technologies, to my colleagues at NgREN and many more who I may not have mentioned. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as your host, and I look forward to our continued collaboration in the years to come.”
