Through NACOSTI, the Kenyan government was urged to take into account increasing financial support for research activities in the nation.
Delegates engaged in diverse multidisciplinary discussions on the second day of the 8th International Interdisciplinary and Inter-Universities Consortium—Africa Conference 2023, including the need to focus on importance of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as the driving discussion for achieving Vision 2030 and Africa Union Agenda 2063 objectives.
Discussions about pressing problems affecting Africa and the rest of the world got off to a serious start on Friday among attendees of the ongoing international conference on science and technology being held at Mount Kenya University (MKU) in Thika town.
The conference’s attendees represented the public, private, and academic sectors. They discussed strategies for fostering stability in the fields of security, socioeconomic development, and peace.
Additional partners include the Universities of Kyambogo in Uganda, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Nigeria, the University of Makeni in Sierra Leone, and the University of Eldoret in Kenya.
All five universities in Africa are members of the Inter-University Consortium Africa, an organisation devoted to the advancement of knowledge theory and practises as well as technological innovation.
Dr. Henry Yatich said, “As a consortium, we applaud the high number of delegates who have attended the conference thus far and their contribution in underlining the importance of STI in promoting food security, enshrining peace, and promoting problem-based innovations with industry.
Through the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI), the Kenyan government was urged to take into account increasing financial support for research activities in the nation.
This was noted as a lesson learned from the majority of European and American nations that have invested a sizable portion of their national budgets in problem-based research that has produced ground-breaking goods and procedures that can address contemporary socioeconomic and political issues.
The conference’s chief guest, Prof. Walter O. Oyawa, chief executive officer of NACOSTI, stated that “science, technology, and innovation (STI) are key drivers of economic and social development, and are therefore a critical means of implementation for the national agenda.”
In order to strengthen national security, improve public safety and health, and promote inclusive sustainable development, Prof. Oyawa said the COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the critical role of research, science, technology, and innovation (research systems) as a global public good. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, “effective public-private knowledge transfer is more important than ever for innovation,” he declared.