Posts by Davis Weddi
Strengthening STI data for policy impact
The Centre for Science, Technology, and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) recently hosted a high-impact workshop on strengthening the capacity of African Science Granting Councils in the use of evidence in policy and decision-making (Evi-Pol) under the Science Granting Councils Initiative. The event was held in Cape Town, South Africa. It gathered senior policymakers, data specialists, and…
Read MoreDriving Africa’s STI future
Exciting developments in African Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) emerged from the recent gathering of African Heads of Research Councils (HORCs) in Accra, Ghana. Strengthening continental collaboration and aligning efforts with the STISA-2034 strategy was the focus of the gathering. African Centre for Technology Studies led and coordinated that assignment on behalf of the SGCI.…
Read More‘Jolly Frier’ promises healthy future for garri makers
[LAGOS] Nigerian researchers have created a hybrid gas- and solar-powered device that automates the production of the Nigerian staple garri, improving efficiency and reducing health risks for producers. Garri, a granular flour made from cassava, is usually produced using a wood burning stove. This puts those who make it – mostly women and girls –…
Read MoreFly poo boosts Malawi crop yields
[LILONGWE] As Fanny Ndhlovu and nine other farmers in her village watch their banana crop flourish, they also feel their dying farming practices rejuvenating. For years, these farmers in Mzimba District in Northern Malawi have experienced steady decline in yields. “Here, growing bananas and maize is our life but it has been hard in recent…
Read MoreSolar-powered device seeks to solve Nigeria’s water problems
[LAGOS] Researchers in Nigeria have developed a solar-powered biosensor filtration device that detects and removes killer germs in water, making it safe to drink. Nigeria faces a severe water crisis, with an estimated 70 per cent of water at the point of consumption contaminated, according to UNICEF. The UN children’s agency says 117, 000 children…
Read MoreRwandan scientists develop local yeast for banana wine-makers
[KIGALI] For years, Augusti Ntivuguruzwa struggled to perfect his banana wine in Rwanda. As for many traditional wine-makers in the country, each batch brought uncertainty about whether regulators would approve his product. “Before now, we did not have any yeast specifically made for banana wine and it has been difficult for regulators to approve of…
Read MoreHow language barriers are impeding science learning
Language plays a crucial role in education, shaping how students learn and connect with the world. Yet, according to UNESCO, 40 per cent of the global population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. This gap presents a significant barrier to effective learning, particularly in science education, where technical terms and…
Read MoreUganda shores up shea butter value with time-saving tech
[KAMPALA] For Ojok Okello, a Ugandan shea nut farmer, turning his harvest into a marketable product was a lengthy and labour-intensive process, writes Johnnie Musenze. It would take at least ten hours, with several workers helping him, to process one kilogram of shea butter, a fatty substance derived from the nuts of the shea tree…
Read MoreBotswana turns to goat milk to fill dairy shortfall
[MAUN, BOTSWANA] Could goat’s milk be the answer to Botswana’s milk shortage? Agricultural scientist Ntshepisa Lebetwa believes it could and has been exploring ways of making it even more nutritious, writes Baboki Kayawe. Botswana’s dairy sector has long been struggling from drought, disease outbreaks, and a shortfall of cattle, leaving the country to rely heavily…
Read MoreNavigating Africa’s intellectual property challenges
[GABORONE] Complicated intellectual property (IP) procedures are slowing down innovation in Africa, according to researchers, who say “innovation agencies” must help simplify processes and link researchers to markets. Despite hosting talented innovators and researchers, Africa contributes less than 0.5 per cent of global patent filings annually. Weak IP frameworks and limited coordination between African countries…
Read More