African academicians have pledged to drive socio-economic development of the people across the continent through fostering research and innovation.

More than 200 academics from 30 countries across the continent made the pledge at the second African Network of Researchers in Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics) conference, which opened at the University of Rwanda in Kigali yesterday.

Prof. Philip Cotton, the university vice-chancellor, said it was time for the African higher learning institutions to change the mindset of training for just degrees but provide education that improves the entire life course of the graduates.

"The innovation places a huge task on academicians to ensure that education transforms society by empowering students with skills, specifically entrepreneurial,” he said.

Opening the conference, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Dr Celestin Ntivuguruzwa, urged participants to stimulate the continent’s economic growth through research and innovation.

"We recognise the vital role of innovation in national development and the government has committed to support science, technology and innovation in all aspects. Researchers and academicians should devote efforts and time to innovation to drive this continent’s overall development,” he said, adding that the less one participates in innovation, the less progress they will get in this competitive world.

Charting innovation, development

Dr Bitrina D. Diyamett, the chairperson of AfricaLics, said participants will also deliberate on challenges facing the continent and opportunities that can be harnessed to promote innovation and inclusive development.

"Our existing knowledge is underutilised but we want to ensure that it is optimally used to develop Africa. The innovation knowledge has to be evenly distributed and want to produce more relevant knowledge to address our issues,” said Diyamett who doubles as the executive director of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organisation, in Tanzania.

Dr Ntivuguruzwa said academicians have to strengthen research centres across the continent with a focus on empowering the youth with entrepreneurial skills.

"Rwanda and other developing African countries need to develop creativity and innovation among the young graduates in order to open their minds and think outside the box,” he said.

Dr Rebecca Hanlin, the innovation and development specialist at the African Centre for Technology Studies, Kenya, said AfricaLics has so far assisted 70 doctorate of philosophy graduates across the continent in the past three years and looks forward to assisting those at University of Rwanda too.

She added that every PhD student is assisted with $30,000 (Rwf22.8 million) for research.

The three-day conference, running under the theme, "Unpacking systems of innovation for sustainable development,” will cover a set of topics on important aspects linking innovation and competence-building for sustainable development.

AfricaLics was founded in 2012 as a chapter of the Global Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems.

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