Tinubu, Adesina, Lumumba to Attend African Academy of Sciences Conference in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwunmi Adesina, and renowned Kenyan activist and lawyer Patrick Lumumba are among the high-profile figures expected at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Biannual Conference and General Assembly in Abuja from December 9 to 12, 2024.

President Tinubu will inaugurate the continental event, while AfDB President Adesina will deliver the keynote address. Prominent presenters include Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Prof. Olubayi Olubayi from Uganda, and Prof. Oyewale Tomori, the current President of the West African Network of Science Academies.

Addressing the media in Abuja, Prof. Friday Okonofua, former Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, representing AAS President Prof. Lise Korsten of the University of Pretoria, outlined the significance of the conference. According to Okonofua, the event holds promise for transforming Africa’s approach to science and harnessing its potential for the continent’s development.

“The African Academy of Sciences (AAS), established in 1985, is a non-political, non-profit, pan-African learned society aimed at promoting development across African countries using scientific principles,” Okonofua explained. He noted that the AAS General Assembly, which governs the organization, consists of 560 elected Fellows from all African nations, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

This upcoming event marks the fifth biannual conference, and it is the first time the gathering will be held in West Africa. Themed Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise, the conference will take place at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, and will bring together over 1,000 scholars, policymakers, regional science bodies, and development partners. Key sub themes include health, climate change, science diplomacy, agriculture, digital economy, and funding mechanisms.

In addition to the presentations and discussions, new Fellows will be inducted into the Academy, and winners of the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize and other awards will be announced. The event promises to further strengthen scientific collaboration and development across Africa.