Africa must be an integral part of 21st Century scientific research – Prof. Maryam Aminu-Mukhtar

The global community should see Africa as an integral part of the 21st Century scientific research, the Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Maryam Aminu-Mukhtar, has declared. 

Prof. Maryam, who doubles as Head of Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, made the declaration when she gave a vote of thanks at the opening ceremony for the 55th Annual (Hybrid) Conference of Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) held at CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, ABU, Zaria. 

She said that it was their collective responsibility as scientists that they should see to the transformation and development of science and scientific research in Nigeria and Africa at large. 

Maryam, who spoke in her capacity as chairperson of the conference local organising committee (LOC), also stressed that the synergy between the academia, research institutes, and industries was “very necessary”, as the collaboration was needed to shape the face of science in Africa. 

The distinguished professor of microbiology described as “exciting” the presentations made at the conference, especially those ones calling for a better future of scientific research and practice in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. 

She noted that this year’s conference had the highest number of abstract submissions in the history of Science Association of Nigeria (SAN), as more than 300 well-written abstracts from researchers were accepted. 

“This is a plus to the local organising committee (LOC) and SAN Council members! We are hopeful that more articulated achievements will be recorded by SAN in years to come”, she said. 

Prof. Maryam expressed gratitude to SAN Council members, LOC members, all participants, especially NUC’s former Executive Secretary, Prof. Peter A. Okebukola, all awardees, members of the international community, experts, and the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabiru Bala, for serving as pillars for the four-day event. 

Maryam, who described the conference as a huge success, assured that all the deliberations at the conference would be holistically considered and that whenever the book of proceedings was ready, it would be available on the SAN’s website.    

Maryam was appointed the Secretary of the Project Management Committee to the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development, and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) in November, 2021. 

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Public Affairs Directorate, 

Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Wednesday, 5th July, 2023