12 Nov 2024

More than 100 delegates from Sub-Saharan African countries and abroad have convened in Gaborone for the 2024 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Annual Forum and Global Research Council Sub-Saharan Africa Regional meeting.

The seminar, which is the first of its kind in Botswana since it joined the SGCI partnership in 2015, is hosted by the Ministry of Communication, Knowledge and Technology, started on November 11 and ends November 15 under the theme: Science Granting Councils in a Dynamic African Science, Technology and Innovation Landscape.

Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources vice chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele in his key address, said this year’s theme was relevant as it came at a time when Botswana was going through a period of power transition.

“Most importantly this meeting comes at a period of time in our nation’s history following the recent national elections, that has come up with a completely new government,” Prof. Mosepele said. 

The new government, according to Prof. Mosepele had set some measures that needed innovative approaches such as creation of jobs, adding that Botswana faced a high level of youth unemployment hence advised African governments that investing in the youth was not an option.

He further said the theme reflected Botswana’s national agenda in science, technology and innovation.

Prof. Mosepele also stated that youth unemployment challenged developments adding that according to the International Labour Organisation, the Sub-Saharan Africa countries bore the price of abject unemployment rate.

“According to the World Economic Forum skills mismatch is one of the key factors for youth unemployment, which is also the case in Botswana,” he said.

He said the statistics indicated that over 21 per cent of youth in the region were unemployed, which was higher than the global average of 20.4 per cent.

Also, he said hosting the seminar was a demonstration of Botswana’s commitment to advancing a research, science, technology and innovation agenda.

He highlighted that SGCIs played a crucial role in increasing the capacity of national research funding agencies and created a healthy environment to support the scientific process. ends