Participants in Research and Education Networks from across Africa and beyond converged in Accra, Ghana to celebrate the gains made during the West and Central Africa Research and Education Networks (WACREN) 2023 Conference. This year the conference was Jam packed with valuable discussions under the theme “Tooling Up for the African Digital Learner and Researche”. It was hosted by GARNET which is the Ghanaian National Research and Education Network and took place from 16 – 17 March 2023.
The conference consisted of topical issues which included NRENs and Internet of Things, Leveraging NRENs for Meteorological and Climate Research, How to Improve Open Science Infrastructure in Africa, and Scalability Platforms for Digital Education. The Minister of Science, Research, Technology & Innovation, Ghana stressed on the need for the Research and Education Networks to work together and form synergies for mutual development.
Keynote speeches from professionals in various fields of research and education were a standout part of the conference. Individuals such as Prof. Nii Quaynor, who is acclaimed to be the father of internet in Africa accompanied the Minister of Science, research, Technology & innovation along with Dr. Kosta Glinos, an expert in Open Science.
In attendance from UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networks were the CEO and the Project Manager. Such conferences allow for important meetings to take place amongst key project partners on future work that can be done in the African region. Also present from the Eastern and Southern African region were participants from the Research and Education Network of Uganda (RENU), Mozambique Research and Education Network (MoRENet), and Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN).
Congratulations to WACREN for holding a very successful conference.