Stakeholders from across various institutions in Africa have converged for the First (1st) Annual General Meeting & Conference of the African Research Security Consortium (ARSC) to address the critical intersection of research, security, and development in Africa.
The two-day blended Conference which kicked off with an opening ceremony on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Dr. Chris Maiyaki.
Themed: Academic Research Security: Emerging Trends and Applications for Knowledge Economy in Africa, the event which held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UNILAG attracted policymakers, researchers, academics, and students.
Delivering the keynote address on Emerging Technologies & Research Security: Opportunities and Risks, former Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe underscored the transformative power of emerging technologies in advancing research, as well as the immense opportunities and significant challenges they bring to academic institutions worldwide.
Professor Ogundipe who spoke virtually painted a vivid picture of the technological advances that have revolutionized research. From artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain and quantum computing, noting that these tools have accelerated research by enabling scholars to tackle complex problems with unprecedented speed and accuracy. However, he cautioned that these advancements have raised the stakes in terms of research security.
His words “While emerging technologies offer vast potential, they also come with new risks. With increasing amounts of research data being stored and shared digitally, the importance of safeguarding this data to maintain trust in academic research cannot be over-emphasized”.
The avid researcher also raised concerns about the challenges posed by open-source platforms, where intellectual property is often at risk of being exploited if adequate security measures are not in place. To address these challenges, Professor Ogundipe called for a concerted effort to foster digital security capacity and ensure equitable access to technology across the continent.
Call for Collaborative Action
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) of UNILAG, Professor Lucian Obinna Chukwu, who represented the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, at the event, stressed the growing relevance of research security and the commitment of the University to foster a robust research culture anchored in innovation, integrity, and collaboration.
He expressed gratitude to the Research Management Office (RMO) of the institution and African Research Security Consortium (ARSC) for their visionary leadership in organizing the groundbreaking event that is not just a dialogue; but a call to action.
In her remarks, Chair of the African Research Security Consortium, Professor Miriam N. Igwo-Ezikpe, reflected on the origins and mission of the ARSC. She disclosed that the consortium was established in 2023 through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State, Sandia National Laboratories, and CRDF Global, to address the pressing need for research security across Africa.
The ARSC Lead highlighted the efforts of the organization to ensure the delivery of secure, resilient, and collaborative research environment that drives innovation and development.
With the world on the cusp of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Professor Igwo-Ezikpe debunked the notion that awareness creation is enough to drive the subject. She pointed out that stakeholders must also provide concrete solutions, frameworks, and tools that researchers can apply in real-world contexts to secure their work and ideas.
Goodwill Messages
Leading the array of goodwill messages was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu who was represented by the Vice-Chair, ARSC, Professor Damien Odimegwu.
Similarly, the U.S. Department of State representative, Mr. Richard J. Silva also delivered a goodwill message, commending the conference’s timely focus on research security. He emphasized the critical importance of secure academic research in driving both innovation and economic development, particularly in Africa, where emerging technologies could significantly shape the continent’s future.
Mr. Silva reaffirmed the U.S. Department of State’s commitment to international efforts to secure academic research, particularly through partnerships like the ARSC.
Plenary Sessions and In-Depth Discussions
The conference featured a series of plenary sessions and paper presentations, focusing on a range of thematic areas that are critical to the future of academic research in Africa. The topics included Cybersecurity in Academic Research, Ethics, and Research Integrity, Research Technological Innovation, Capacity Building and Education, Entrepreneurship and Startups for Research Security, the Impact of Research Security on the Knowledge Economy, and Intellectual Property Concerns.
These discussions provided a unique platform for experts, scholars, and policymakers to share best practices and identify strategies to strengthen Africa’s research environment.
Participants engaged in in-depth conversations about securing intellectual property, ensuring data protection, and navigating the ethical complexities of emerging technologies in research. The importance of building strong institutional frameworks and policies to safeguard academic research in an increasingly digital and interconnected world was also a central theme throughout the sessions.
A Courtesy Visit to the University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor
Earlier in the day, the ARSC leadership, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
The delegation was warmly received by members of the University’s management team, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa who re-affirmed the institution’s support to “deliberation that not only highlight challenges we face but also serve as a springboard for sustainable policies and practices that will heighten our global relevance”.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Islamiat Akanni
