Researchers & Academics Re-commit to Africa’s Development as 4th ARUA Biennial Int’l Conference Ends

The fourth Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) hosted by the University of Lagos ended on a high note with stakeholders calling for unity of purpose, focused engagement with government institutions and policymakers as well as research collaboration among African Universities to address and solve continental challenges.

The Policy Roundtable and Wrap-Up session which held in the evening of Friday, November 17, 2023 to close the 3-day International Conference had the theme: Global Challenges and the Implications for Research at African Universities.

On the panel of discussants was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research, University of Lagos, Professor Bola Oboh, who decried the one percent research contribution coming from Africa to the global research community.

Prof. Oboh stressed the need for researchers and research institutions in Africa to re-double their efforts in impact-driven research especially in food security, growth and sustainability. She charged African researchers to see Artificial Intelligence as a problem-solving tool and not allow it to worsen the unemployment crises on the continent.

In his contributions, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Lucian Obinna-Chukwu lauded the idea and objectives of ARUA. He also called for a transition from mere rhetorics to reality.

The Policy Roundtable and Wrap-Up session which was presided over by the Secretary-General of ARUA, Professor Ernest Aryeetey saw Professor Imraan Valodia of the University of Witwatersrand identifying Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Population growth and Climate change as major factors which would affect Africa and Africans in the decades ahead. He underscored the need for researchers in Africa to mobilize indigenous resources, influence government policymakers and engage foreign donors in a constructive manner without sabotaging the originality of their research.

Professor Robert Osei of the University of Ghana advocated the need for governments in Africa to ensure increased funding of tertiary education institutions with a view to addressing the over-reliance on foreign governments for financial interventions which oftentimes influence research focuses and objectives.

Professor Margaret Hutchinson of the University of Nairobi emphasized the need for managements of higher education institutions in Africa to lay good examples of leadership by promoting research efforts which are geared towards national and continental needs.

Professor Nelson Boniface of the University of Dares es Salaam also raised concerns over the continually dwindling commitment to funding tertiary education by many African countries. A development, which he said, has continued to hamper quality of research and its communication. He called for indigenous funding of research with a view to guaranteeing originality and warding off undue influences of external funders.

In her goodwill message to close the fourth Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola OON, FAS, applauded all participants and resource persons for the quality of discussions and recommendations raised by participants at the conference. She passed a vote of confidence in ARUA’s ability to fulfill its mandate, by ensuring unity of purpose and following through with every recommendation to break new grounds for tertiary education in Africa.

Other highlights of the Policy Roundtable and Wrap-Up session were presentation of plaques to sponsors and supporters of the conference. The fourth Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) hosted by the University of Lagos kicked off on Wednesday, November 17, 2023 with the theme Reimagining the Future of Higher Education in Africa.