Business
African Leaders Move To Embrace Science, Research
Bothered by the spate of poor investments in the development of African countries through science and research in the face of increasing challenges, African leaders have launched “Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa” (AESA).
Launched recently in Nairobi, Kenya and endorsed by African Heads of State and Government, the Nairobi-based AESA aims to support the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024) and the African Health Strategy (AHS) for 2015 – 2030.
The launch of AESA is a deliberate move to close the gap in Africa, which reveals that currently, the continent accounts for 15% of the global population and 25% of the global disease burden, but only produces about 2% of the world’s research output.
Although more than 60% of African countries have increased their recent investments in science, over half of African countries still invest less than 0.5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research, which is far less than the global 1%.
Increased domestic investment in research is therefore needed to accelerate the long-term health and development progress required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, according to the leaders.
“Now is the moment for Africa to take action and prioritise funding for local scientific research and innovation. Our continent’s future depends on it”, said the President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.
“As a scientist, entrepreneur and President, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that investments in science can have, both on individual researchers and on a country’s development”, he said.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, noted the significance of the AESA.
According to him, “The launch of AESA today is a significant milestone in driving investment in health research and lifting science across the continent. AESA will ensure that Africa contributes to the global pool of scientific knowledge and technological innovations”.
AESA was created by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the NEPAD Agency with $5.5 million in initial seed funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Business
NAFDAC Decries Circulation Of Prohibited Food Items In markets …….Orders Vendors’ Immediate Cessation Of Dealings With Products
Importers, market traders, and supermarket operators have therefore, been directed to immediately cease all dealings in these items and to notify their supply chain partners to halt transactions involving prohibited products.
The agency emphasized that failure to comply will attract strict enforcement measures, including seizure and destruction of goods, suspension or revocation of operational licences, and prosecution under relevant laws.
The statement said “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the growing incidence of smuggling, sale, and distribution of regulated food products such as pasta, noodles, sugar, and tomato paste currently found in markets across the country.
“These products are expressly listed on the Federal Government’s Customs Prohibition List and are not permitted for importation”.
NAFDAC also called on other government bodies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Shippers Council, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), to collaborate in enforcing the ban on these unsafe products.
