From December 9 to 12, 2024, Abuja will host the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Biannual Conference and General Assembly, featuring prominent figures like President Bola Tinubu, African Development Bank President Akinwunmi Adesina, and Kenyan lawyer and activist Patrick Lumumba.
Tinubu will open the event, while Adesina will deliver a keynote address. Other notable speakers include Prof. Patrick Lumumba from Kenya, Prof. Olubayi Olubayi from Uganda, and Prof. Oyewale Tomori, President of the West African Network of Science Academies. These thought leaders will present on various critical topics.
Prof. Friday Okonofua, former Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, shared that the outcomes of the conference could significantly influence Africa’s approach to science and development. Speaking on behalf of the AAS President, Professor Lise Korsten of the University of Pretoria, Okonofua highlighted the importance of the conference.
Founded in 1985, the AAS aims to advance science across Africa. The organization is headquartered in Nairobi and has nearly 560 elected Fellows. This 5th biennial conference will be the first held in West Africa, bringing together over 1,000 global thinkers, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Themed “Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise,” the conference will explore sub-themes such as health, climate change, science diplomacy, infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital and creative economy, all aimed at addressing Africa’s scientific and developmental challenges.