I was opportune to present a speech about the Science and Innovation Network (SIN) at Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)/ GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) GCMS Training which commenced 21 – 25 November 2016 at the University of Lagos (Unilag). Furthermore I wrote the speech for the Deputy High Commissioner at post for the Reception event for the stakeholders which held at the British Residence, Lagos. PACN recently secured over £700k investment from GSK to train scientists in Africa in analytical chemistry techniques over the next 5 years. As part of this partnership, PACN put together this GC-MS training course in Lagos, Nigeria. More information about the training can be seen here.
The PACN aims to build a self-sustaining science base across Africa to solve local challenges and contribute to global knowledge. The PACN/RSC mainly works in four hubs – Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The Network’s main links in Nigeria are at the Universities of Lagos, Ibadan and Jos and its corporate partners, GSK and Procter & Gamble (P&G). The network regularly hosts conferences in Nigeria to foster science and research work; The Royal Society of Chemistry works extensively in Africa through the Pan African Chemistry Network in Nigeria and they have supported a partnership between P&G and the University of Lagos, PACN had hosted a symposium with P&G earlier this year.
Visibility is key for the SIN activities in connecting to the likely partners or collaborating institutions, thus SIN Nigeria reached out to the PACN, RSC, GSK, Unilag and other researchers and spoke to them about SIN’s work and how we could collaborate for possible researchers and students exchange, and gaining access to first class UK facilities for shared wins for Nigeria and the UK.
Furthermore, a number of Nigerian researcher institutions, scientist and students still find it difficult connecting with colleagues and institutions around the world and the UK in particular as a global leader, consequently the address was apt and would serve as a good means of connecting keen researchers with novel solutions/ideas with UK counterparts.
Impact
After the speeches by the Deputy High Commissioner, represented by Deputy Director Department for International Trade, Mr. John Woodruffe, who reiterated that ‘it is only through working together that novel ideas can be shared to move the UK and Nigeria, and even other nations forward leading to these initiatives and solutions being translated for prosperity and sustainable development of both countries which could be scaled globally’.; Senior Programme Manager, Africa RSC- PACN, Dr Helen Driver; and RSC- PACN Chairman, Local Organising Committee Nigeria, Professor Oluwole Familoni who also represented the Vice Chancellor University of Lagos;. The event provided a platform for informal networking and interaction between the various stakeholders, it was an interactive cocktail. I have been in contact with some of the stakeholders and hoping some good collaboration happens as a result of the event and this created relationships.
