…as AU offers $200,000 scholarship to African students
By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government on Monday expressed willingness to cooperate with the African Union to advance Science and technology innovations as well as develop competence and skills that will enable Africa combat poverty and underdevelopment.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this when the Commissioner of the Human Resources, Science and Technology Department (HRST) of the African Union Commission (AUC) Prof. Sarah Anyang paid him a Courtesy in his office in Abuja.
Onu commended the African Union for spearheading Africa to move in a new direction, adding that with her abundant materials resources, African nations must embrace a knowledge and innovation driven economy in order to add value and diversify her economy.
He recalled that most developed part of the world came to Africa to exploit its raw materials and challenged African scientists to focus on the study of materials science, mathematics, medicine and others.
African nations he added, must pay special attention to science and technology innovations so that “we will now use the instrument of science and technology innovation to add value to the enormous raw materials we have , that is the only way we can create jobs, for our people , grow the economy further and fight poverty”.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology Department of the African Union Commission (AUC) Prof, Sarah Abgor had stressed the need for Nigeria and AU to work together “in the march of progress for Africa we want, Africa that we envisage and the paradise that African can become”.
“The youths of Africa are our strength and also the leaders of tomorrow hence they must be given the right environment to develop and the right competence and skills to be able to participate in the development of Africa we want.’’ she added.
She disclosed that Pan African University which is a flagship of continental Educational Strategy for Africa is open to African youths to apply for the scholarship programme on AU website.
The AU commissioner also disclosed that the pan African universities run five specialised training in five different universities’ in Algeria, Kenya Nigeria Cameroun and South Africa.
It is sponsored fully by AU members’ states from masters’ level to Phd.