‘Research, Technology, Solution To SDGs Achievement In Africa’

The African Union Development Agency -New Partnership For Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has harped on the need to invest in science and technology for the development of Africa.
It said there is need to increase focus on research that can contribute to economic growth in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and Agenda 2063 in Africa.
The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, stated this at the Opening Ceremony of the 1st Annual Pan-African Scientific Research Council (PASRC) Conference in Abuja, Sunday.
Akobundu said the 1st PASRC which is in collaboration with Africa School of Economics (ASE), was being facilitated to help young people go into technology and innovation to be able to actualise the growth and development needed in Africa.
She said PASRC was established in 2020, with the aim of bringing together African focused researchers and professionals to enable cross-disciplinary, generational, and geographical collaboration and peer learning.
“The goal of the council is to promote research, career development, policy and public engagement among African -focused researchers and professionals in the thematic areas of social sciences; biomedical sciences; agricultural, energy, and environmental sciences; and applied mathematics, computer science, and statistics.
“As at February, 2021, PASRC has inaugurated 521 members from 55 Countries”, she said.
According to her, there is a growing recognition that achieving the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063 would necessitate extensive technical expertise and deep research capacities.
“The African Union (AU) Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) places science, technology, and innovation at the epicenter of Africa’s socio-economic development and growth which places emphasis on the impact sciences across critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, environment, health, infrastructure development, mining, security and water among others.