By Vanessa Akoth
A series of online lectures focusing on reigniting African industrialization through innovation has been launched as tribute to Prof. Calestous Juma- an internationally recognized authority in the application of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
The two-day seminar will be hosted by Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF) and the African Centre of Technology Studies (ACTS) from the 12th-13th of August.
The event will on the first day cover the official launch and setting scene presentation. In addition, the keynote speaker Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka of Africa Development Bank (AFDB) will deliver a speech on Re-igniting Africa Industrialization.
Other speakers will include: Prof. Rasmus Lema, Aalborg University (Denmark), Prof. Raphael Kaplinsky, University of Sussex (UK) Prof. Maureen Mackintosh, Open University, Prof. Erica Kraema-Mbula, University of Johannesburg and Hon Dr. Shem Ochuodho Global Chairman of Kenya Diaspora Alliance; Senior Policy Advisor, Africa.
The final day will focus on Renewable Electrification and Industrialization in Developing Countries. The webinar will present a new frame work for understanding how green transformation and sustainable industrialization can be combined, highlighting the opportunities and constrains for local capability and the scope for local policy action.
Speakers expected in the event are: Dr. Charles Nzila, Moi University (Kenya), Dr.Rebecca Hanlin ACTS (Kenya), Paul Mbole, Climate and Energy Expert Baca Development Partners (Kenya), Faith Wandera, Senior Deputy Director Moi University and Ministry of Energy Kenya and Padmasai Lakshmi Bhamidipati, Post-doc DTU-UNEP.
Prof. Calestous Juma’s work focused on analysing how knowledge and innovation could be harnessed for development in the context of institutional change in socio-economic systems. All his initiatives promoted this agenda through advanced STI policy research, especially biotechnology; provision of high-level science and technology advice; and promotion of the conservation of biological diversity. He founded African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in 1988 where his initial developmental ideas were nurtured.
The lecture series is open to a wide range of stakeholders including policy makers from the countries in the region and the experts from the Continent’s Regional Economic Communities like COMESA and AUDA with the responsibility of formulation and implementation of relevant innovation and other industrial policies for sustainable and inclusive industrialization, key stakeholders with the responsibility of STI and representatives from the universities, the industry, Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and other sectors of the civil society (CBOs) involved in innovation and development matters.
These lecture series will be held once every three months and will culminate to ACTS-CJLF conference in early 2022.
Registration can be done using the following links
Day 1 registration link – 12th August 2021
Day 2 registration link – 13th August 2021
