Posts by Davis Weddi
Rwanda council drives science and innovation for development
The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is dedicated to transforming Rwanda into a nation powered by science, technology, and innovation. Their focus is on leveraging tools to promote social welfare, drive sustainable socio-economic development, and enhance Rwanda’s competitiveness in the global marketplace through strategic partnerships, implementing capacity-building initiatives, and supporting groundbreaking research. NCST…
Read MoreDid you miss our May newsletter?
Our May Footprints newsletter edition featured innovations that are needed to reshape Africa’s future. From solutions for food security to mining innovations. In our podcast, we extensively narrated the need to solve the forest crisis in Africa and why it is vital for the survival of millions of people who rely on them for food,…
Read MoreHow TETFund is changing lives through innovative research
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is leading the way in bridging the gap between academic research and solutions, changing the lives of people and communities in Nigeria. As Nigeria’s representative council in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), TETFund has redefined what it means to champion research for impact by focusing on what communities…
Read MoreNamibia, South Africa sign research partnership MoU
The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) Namibia and the National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen research collaboration between the two countries. The agreement was signed during the 13th annual meeting of the Global Research Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 18 May…
Read MoreNamibian council launches Mr and Ms STEM competition
The National Commission on Research Science and Technology (NCRST), Namibia, is taking bold steps to support Namibia’s next generation of science leaders through the launch of the Mr and Ms STEM competition. This initiative is a strategic investment in the country’s science future, positioning young Namibians as the driving force behind the nation’s technological advancement.…
Read MoreHow Malawian council is reshaping its science sector
The Malawi National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is changing the country’s scientific landscape. Since becoming operational in 2009, they have grown from a coordinating body into the driving engine behind Malawi’s most significant scientific achievements. Under the leadership of Gift Kadzamira, the director general, the council successfully influenced national policy, as in 2022,…
Read MoreRemembering Nodumo Dhlamini
The African Science Granting Councils Initiative community was thrown into mourning with the loss of Nodumo Dhlamini, the director of ICT, Communications, and Knowledge Management at the Association of African Universities (AAU). Her impact resonated globally, touching countless lives and institutions, as evident in the outpouring of condolence messages received by the AAU from around…
Read MoreArtificial insemination a win for Zimbabwe’s farmers
[Manzini, SciDev.Net] Zimbabwean farmer Freedom Sibanda used to sell his goats for US$30 each. Now, through crossbreeding techniques, one goat can fetch up to US$60 at market. Many smallholder farmers across Zimbabwe struggle with low livestock productivity and poverty. Traditional breeding methods often fail, leaving families with poor-quality animals and meagre incomes. When Sibanda crossbred…
Read MoreForest loss adds to Africa’s food crisis
[SciDev.Net] Millions of people parts of Africa are facing record levels of hunger, the UN World Food Programme has warned. Yet at the same time, the region is rapidly losing forests, one of its most valuable food sources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the rate of forest loss in Africa has been increasing…
Read MoreSand solution could cut mining cost in Botswana
[MAUN, BOTSWANA] Researchers in Botswana have converted ordinary sand into specialized mining chemicals that could slash the country’s mining operational costs by a third while ending its dependence on imported chemicals. Scientists at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) have developed a chemical compound for mineral extraction using locally sourced sand —…
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