The Centre for Research, Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurship (CRIDE) has called for collective action towards achieving sustainable development in Africa.
The Head of Academics, CRIDE, UK, Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, made the call at the 2024 CRIDE International Conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, which has “Sustainable Development: Leaving No One Behind” as its theme, was organised by CRIDE in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Philomath University.
Adesina-Uthman emphasised the need to focus on research and entrepreneurial activities through seeking opportunities and challenges in sustainable development.
She also called for partnerships and collaborations to drive sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa.
According to her, Nigeria has made moderate improvements in only four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while being stagnant in 12 others, including poverty, education and health.
She emphasised the need for urgent action to achieve the other goals.
“Our discussions here are vital for generating practical solutions that can drive progress in these areas.
“The conference is expected to produce policies and solutions that will help address the gaps in achieving the SDGs, particularly in Africa,” she said.
In his remarks, Prof. Olufemi Peters, Vice Chancellor of NOUN, emphasised the importance of sustainable development in addressing societal issues.
“This year’s inaugural conference will be centred on how sustainable development may be practically applied to the advancement of many global socio-economic, political, moral, and cultural spheres of our society,” he said.
Also, Mr Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission(NUC), said the intersection of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship was key to unlocking solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
Maiyaki, who was represented by the commission’s Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr Biodun Saliu, commended the organisers, noting that the conference would serve as a platform for sharing insights and developing actionable strategies for sustainable development.
The Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, emphasised the need for Africa to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of development.
Olotu, who was represented by Commandant Amos Abu, pledged support for CRIDE, affirming the college’s commitment to collaborating with the centre on research and innovation for sustainable development.
In her keynote address, Prof. Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Science, Ghana, emphasised the role of Artificial Intelligence (Al) in solving problems such as climate change and pollution in Africa,
“Al can help us identify patterns and create models that predict and inform decision-making, especially in areas like climate change and pollution.
“By integrating Al into sustainable development strategies, we can accelerate progress and provide more accurate solutions,” she said.
(NAN)