Africa-Press – Botswana. More than 100 delegates have convened at Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino 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 the country joined the SGCI partnership in 2015, is hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Innovation formerly known as the Ministry of Communication, Knowledge and Technology.
In his key address, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) Vice Chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele 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,” said Prof. Mosepele.
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 (ILO), the Sub-Saharan Africa countries bore the price of abject unemployment rate.
“According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), skills mismatch is one of the key factors for youth unemployment which is also the case in Botswana,” said Mosepele.
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.
Hosting the seminar is a demonstration of Botswana’s commitment to advancing a research, science, technology and innovation agenda, said Prof. Mosepele.
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.
The meeting started on Monday and ends Friday. It is held under the theme: Science Granting Councils in a Dynamic African Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Landscape.
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