COVIDSET2015 6th Regional Conference of Vice Chancellors Provosts, Deans of Science, Engineering & Technology

1. Address by Prof. Hubert Gijzen, UNESCO Regional Director
On the occasion of the 6th
Regional Conference of Vice
Chancellors, Provost and Deans of Science and Technology in
Africa
5 October, 2015, Nike Resort Enugu, Nigeria
 Your Excellency Rt. Hon Ifenyichukwu Ugwayi,
Executive Governor of Enugu State
 Professor Benjamin Ozumba, Vice Chancellor of the
University of Nigeria, Nsuka our host
 Professor George Magoha, Chairman of ANSTI
Governing Council and GC members
 Professor Francisca Okeke, Dean of Faculty of Physical
Sciences, University of Nigeria and Chair of the LOC
and LOC members
 Dr Anthony Anuforom, Our Keynote Speaker
 Distinguished Vice Chancellors, Provost of Colleges
and Deans of Faculties of Engineering and Science
 Madam Winfred Oyo-Ita, PS Federal Ministry of Science
and Technology, Nigeria
 Representatives from Government,
 Prominent scientists and engineers, policy makers,
 Development partners,
 Colleagues from the United Nations,
 Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to join you in this 6th
Biennial
Regional Conference of Vice Chancellors Provosts and Deans
of Science and Technology to share some thoughts on the
theme in this opening session. Although I will not be present

2. physically due to other equally urgent demands, I am pleased
that I will be able to connect with you all virtually, thanks to
information technology.
On behalf of the Director General of UNESCO, Madam Irina
Bokova, I wish to first of all express our sincere thanks to our
host, the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, the LOC and in
particular the Vice-Chancellor for joining us in organising this
important forum on University education and training in
science, engineering and technology in Africa post 2015. I also
thank the Vice Chancellors, Provosts and Deans of ANSTI
member Institutions for prioritising this event in your heavy
schedules of agenda. I am pleased to see such distinguished
representatives from government and academia in Africa to
participate in this high-level forum. Your participation will
contribute to the success of this event and provides
opportunities for dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences
in charting the way forward for building the needed human
capital in SET for advancing Africa’s aspiration. On behalf of
UNESCO, I extend a very warm welcome to all of you.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This high-level forum on University Education and Training in
science, engineering technology comes at a critical juncture –
as we advance towards the target date for the Millennium
Development Goals, and as we prepare to implement the new
global development agenda to follow 2015. The post-2015
agenda must address the big questions of our time --
questions about eradicating poverty, enhancing food security,
promoting sustainable energy, managing water and
environmental resources, controlling disease, mitigating

3. natural and man-induced disasters, and fostering sustainable
cities. Science, engineering technology and innovation are
vital for crafting new approaches that are inclusive, rights-
based and founded on solid scientific ground.
The MDGs did not articulate a specific role for science. The
Sustainable Development Goals adopted on 26 September,
2015 by the UN General Assembly present a universal agenda,
for all countries, and emphasize the need for transformational
shifts to achieve the dual objective of poverty eradication and
sustainable development. Such transformational shifts will be
needed in a number of sectors, such as energy, food
production, water management, and others. A complicating
factor is that these different shifts need to be made almost
simultaneously, and calls for strong science to inform policy
and for strong policies for science. It calls revamping our
curricula to make them more relevant, responsive and market
driven. It calls for dedication to purpose and innovation in
University management.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In articulating Africa’s Common Position on the Post-2015
Development Agenda, Heads of State and Government of the
African Union identified STI as one of six main pillars for
Africa’s development. In doing so they agreed on four main
commitments:
(1) To enhance technological capacities for Africa’s
transformative agenda
(2) To build an enabling environment for innovation
(3) To increase support for research and development

4. (4) To optimally utilise space and geospatial technologies
The AU position is clear, but are African universities ready for
the transition from the MDGs to the new sustainable
development goals with its challenges and opportunities?
How well positioned are our S&T universities in harnessing the
opportunities presented by the post 2015 development
agenda? How is science, technology and innovation
positioned and mobilised to support the new agenda? What
can Africa do to meet the demands for quality science and
engineering education and capacity building? What strategies
and actions are needed to accelerate women’s participation in
science, engineering and technology? These pertinent
questions require answers from all stakeholders. As the
primary UN agency with a mandate in the sciences, UNESCO’s
role is to help Member States and in particular partner with
Universities to answer these questions together.
This High-level forum of Higher education practitioners, and
decision makers provides us with a unique opportunity to
address these key issues. Our position is clear. Science
flourishes through dialogue and exchange, in a climate of
collaboration. Science cooperation lies at the heart of our
efforts to build a more just, peaceful and equitable world. The
time is now for African Governments, Universities which are
great laboratories of ideas, experts, UNESCO and other
partners to forge dynamic partnerships and synergies in
developing stronger institutional and robust human capacities
for science based, strategic and long-term responses to the
post 2015 development agenda.

5. Ladies and gentlemen,
The period between the sixties and nineties saw the
emergence of the Asian tigers, where steep economic growth
was triggered amongst others by dedicated and targeted
investments in STI. I believe it is high time we unleash the
African lions – by investing in science, technology and
innovation with the aim to eradicate poverty, and to push the
rich natural resources of the continent higher up in the value
chain, and as such generating economic growth, jobs and
prosperity for all Africans.
We look forward to this new dawn in Africa’s development and
by working together we will ensure that transformational
change, economic empowerment with shared prosperity for all,
peace and sustainable development will characterise Africa’s
further development towards the future we want for all people
in Africa.
Please be assured that UNESCO will continue to work with all
of you in making science and technology work for Africa’s
sustainability.
I wish you a most successful meeting! Thank you.
Enugu, 5 October, 2015