The 5th NAS Annual Scientific Conference
The Academy held its 5th Annual Scientific Conference themed, Transdisciplinary Research as Catalyst for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development, in Lagos on the 23rd and 24th of January, 2024. The conference brought together relevant stakeholders – policymakers, researchers, and the private sector – to showcase scientific research and innovations with the potential of addressing national challenges. Each sub-themed session of this NAS conference featured a lead presentation by an expert on the respective sub-theme, followed by oral presentations of original research. There were also accompanying displays of posters of research for each session.
The conference subthemes were artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies for Nigeria’s development, transdisciplinary research for healthcare in Nigeria, smart agriculture and food security, emerging technologies for sustainable energy production and usage, smart cities and emerging technologies, and emerging technologies in emergency preparedness and response
The conference began with welcome remarks by the Academy’s President, Professor Ekanem Braide, FAS, and goodwill messages from Dr. Aminu Iya Abass (Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa (Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS (Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos) and Professor Sola Akinrinade FNAL (President, Nigerian Academy of Letters).
Professor Neta Hanien, Vice President for Programs and Partnerships at Innov8 Hub was in attendance to deliver the keynote address titled ‘Transdisciplinary Research as Catalyst for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development’. She applauded the Academy for the continued success of the scientific conference.
The conference was successful in achieving its objective of showcasing original scientific research and innovations, disseminating scientific information concerning issues of national relevance, creating a platform for various stakeholders (academia, government, and private sector, etc) to discuss scientific issues of societal significance, as well as fostering mentorship, networking, and collaboration among Nigerian scientists.
The inaugural awards of the Professor Alex Acholonu, FAS prize for best oral and best poster presentations were awarded at the conference. Dr. Mustafa Umar Imam, who won the Best Oral Presenter award, was given a cash prize and a certificate, while Dr. Nanbal Ladan won the Best Poster Presenter award and was given a cash prize and a certificate. The first and second runners-up for each category were Dr. Godswill Nwaji and Dr. Samsudeen Azeez, and Dr. Olugbenga Ogidan, and Dr. John Odiba for oral and poster presentations respectively. They were awarded certificates.
There were exhibitions by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), The Conversation Africa (TCA), and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). Participants at the conference included scientists from universities and research centers, postgraduate students in science disciplines, staff of relevant government departments and agencies, the private sector, developmental agencies, and the media.