ASRIC urges African scientists to lay foundations for new scientific era
By Tolu Aiyegbusi
The Chairman of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), Prof. Sammy Chumbow, has urged African scientists to lay foundations for a new science and technology era using innovation and research.
Chumbow made the call on Friday in his closing remarks at the 7th ASRIC Congress in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
He said the transition into a scientific era as Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024 has ended and Africa was set to adopt the policy strategy of STISA 2024.
Chumbow said, “The strategy aims to guide the continent’s STI development over the next decade.
“Therefore, African scientists should harness the power of science, technology, and innovation to drive economic growth, sustainable development, and global competitiveness.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that STISA-2024 is the first of the ten-year incremental phasing strategies to respond to demands for STI in different sectors.
They include:Â Agriculture, energy, environment, health and security, among others.
STISA-2034 will build on the successes of its predecessor, STISA-2024, and address emerging challenges and opportunities in Africa’s STI landscape.
STISA-2034 was validated by the African stakeholders in STI in November 2024 and will be endorsed at the AU Summit in February 2025.
The chairman stated that this development marked a significant milestone in Africa’s quest to harness the power of science which should be tapped into by African scientists.
Chumbow added that the strategy would reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of African countries, which should foster a united approach by African scientists to STI development on the continent.
He also called on the council’s Bureau to study the objectives and mandates of ASRIC guidelines so as to sharpen their focus on initiatives that produce continental and regional STI development.
Chumbow urged the bureau’s members not to lose touch with research institutions and university officials and to adopt the principles of focal point so as to make a difference in their fields.
The Executive Director, African Union Scientific and Technical Research Commission (AUSTRC) and ASRIC, Dr Ahmed Hamdy, in his closing remarks, said entering another transition period marks a major shift in innovations.
“Coming forward from where we are where the changes are so obvious, entering a period of major transition globally. We are facing several challenges spanning from climate change, emerging diseases among others.
“Let us as scientists look at each of these challenges separately to have a better understanding of how best we can tackle them using STI,’’ he said.
Hamdy said that the challenges of global change required a transition not only in society but also in the scientific community which scientists should rise up to.
“Global change poses unprecedented challenges to scientific and policy communities, a kind that cannot be tackled using existing conceptual frameworks and methods.
“They are likely to change how we live and relate with each other and scientists should rise to the occasion,’’ he said. (NAN)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
Published By
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Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent,
FCT Correspondent,
NAN Abuja.
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