Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Maman, has emphasized the critical role of research in shaping Africa’s future and driving development initiatives. Speaking at the opening of the 2024 WACREN conference in Abuja, Nigeria, themed “Charting the Course: Forging Future-Ready Higher Education and Research Communities,” the minister highlighted the need for collective commitment and collaboration to advance education and research across the African region.
According to Professor Maman, the growth and development of Africa hinge largely on the output of research. Solutions to pressing issues in healthcare, technology, agriculture, and governance are found in the innovative work of researchers and educators. He stressed the importance of leveraging the conference as a platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and foster partnerships to propel the continent’s education systems forward. The theme of the conference underscores the significance of Research and Education Networks (RENs) in ensuring the global relevance of universities amid evolving times. Professor Maman emphasized the importance of collaboration across borders to address common challenges and seize shared opportunities. He highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening regional ties and building networks that transcend geographical boundaries.
Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Education has developed a roadmap to transform Nigeria’s educational system. This includes establishing skills and innovation hubs across tertiary institutions in the country, in line with the government’s renewed hope agenda. Dr. Chris Maiyaki, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Nigeria, noted that the conference provides an opportunity to prepare African higher education and research communities for future opportunities and challenges. He emphasized the need to embrace digital transformation, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Boubakar Barry, CEO of WACREN, highlighted the conference’s goal of positioning West and Central African nations toward the creation of a comprehensive education infrastructure environment. This infrastructure would support teachers, learners, and resource communities in addressing current and future local and global challenges. Additionally, plans are underway to establish a global exchange point in Lagos, connected to the EU Internet Alliance in Cape Town, to facilitate the development of a comprehensive infrastructure for research and education.
The African Research (AR) Index is a comprehensive scholarly directory and database focused explicitly on journal publishers that publish and disseminate African research.
