NAS holds Mentor-Mentee Roundtable

As part of the ‘Strengthening Research Capacity in Nigeria’ workshop, the Nigerian Academy of Science held a Mentor-Mentee Roundtable on the 16th and 17th of May, 2023 in Abuja. The roundtable was held to orientate selected participants in a 5-month research mentorship programme which commenced on the 1st of June, 2023, and would run through the 31st of October, 2023.

The mentorship programme aimed to fill the capacity gap among the current crop of researchers in Nigeria, strengthen the research capacity of early career researchers (ECRs) through direct mentorship, and potentially enhance the academic and career success of the ECRs. Dr. Enang Moma, National Professional Officer (Science) at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), delivered the keynote address titled, ‘The Role of Mentorship in Securing the Future of Science’ and emphasized that science lays the foundation for practices, innovations, and technologies needed to address global challenges today and in the future. She stressed the need to mobilize science and scientists at multiple levels and across disciplines to achieve the global sustainable development goals. Moma explained that mentorship is necessary to build a critical mass of scientists, enable young people enroll in STEM courses, and produce more scientists/researchers.

This project, which is supported by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund, had mentees/early career researchers (ECRs) from higher academic institutions/research institutes; who are actively pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The mentors are established scientists who are able to provide mentorship on mentees’ research, and career goals.