AfDB Co-Organizes First Africa Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation

29 March 2012
Content from a Premium Partner
African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

The first Africa Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will take place from between 1 and 3 April 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Intercontinental Hotel. Hosted by the Kenyan government, it will include an Experts' Meeting (1 and 2 April) and a Ministerial Conference (3 April), and will highlight the need to invest in this key sector to foster youth human capital development, inclusive growth, and provide job opportunities for youth and women.

The event is organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNESCO, the African Union Commission (AU), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).

The Forum will highlight best STI practices and policies in Africa and worldwide. It will seek to reinforce North-South and South-South cooperation, and partnerships between academia, private and public sectors. As such, an innovative exhibition - "Africa on the Move" - is being organised in parallel showcasing the work of approximately 30 Kenyan innovators and entrepreneurs.

Participants include 26 confirmed ministers of Higher education, Science, and Finance, experts, scientists, decision makers, youth, academics, representatives of the private sector and civil society.

They will discuss the mismatch between skills produced and labour market needs, creating a world class cadre of professors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, how latest innovations and scientific research can contribute to promote clean drinking water, renewable energy, and effective health care and how to create a culture of entrepreneurship in Africa so that jobs can be generated by Africans and not only by foreign investors.

The Ministerial Conference will be opened by the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, the President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, the Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Abdoulie Janneh.

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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