The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), on September 11, hosted the launch and maiden networking event of the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx).
AfOx is a cross-university platform for academic and research collaborations between the University of Oxford and African researchers and institutions. The Initiative also supports the work of universities and research institutions across Africa and facilitates the development of extensive partnerships between Oxford and African institutions.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Anne Makena, Program Coordinator of AfOx, said the initiative, championed by its current Director, Prof. Kevin Marsh, was formed after extensive consultations among Oxford academics and African colleagues to foster the establishment of equitable and sustainable collaborations between African academics and the University of Oxford. She was enthusiastic that the initiative would impact positively on the knowledge base of emerging academics across the continent and ensure opportunities for continued growth.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Honourable Minister for Education
Addressing the gathering, the Guest of Honour, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Honourable Minister for Education, articulated his expectation that the launch of the initiative would even out what he described as a checkered historical relationship between the University of Oxford and Africa. He noted that partnerships such as AfOx were key in building and sustaining democracy and development.
“The historical link between the University of Oxford and Africa is not a history that is all good; it is a history that is one-sided, that is being changed with good efforts like AfOx to make it more balanced and even and equitable and we hope that it continues,” Dr. Opoku Prempeh said.
“On the research front, [a lot] has been going on for a long time and lots of efforts have been made on both ends to get the best. I always say that democracy thrives on an educated and well-travelled citizenry, and the partnership between Universities allows for both faculty and student exchange and that helps democracy in various ways. Enlightenment always begins with partnerships,” he said.
The Honourable Minister was encouraged by the more than 125 partnerships between Oxford and Africa, which he believed pointed to a maturing relationship between the University and the continent. He was encouraged by the enduring relationship between researchers at WACCBIP and their colleagues at Oxford. He explained that the partnerships that WACCBIP has forged with institutions and researchers all over the world were important for development. He said that the partnerships were in line with Government's initiatives towards leveraging academic research and partnerships to ensure national growth.
“The President believes that if we are to get our economy and development right, we have to get academia and research right. And so, Government has promised one percent of Ghana's GDP””small as it may be””to promote academic research,” Dr. Opoku Prempeh said. “I can assure you that the Bill has been gazetted as the National Research & Innovation Fund and is going to contribute yearly one percent of GDP and is to be operated by yourselves [academics] and governed by yourselves.”
He also revealed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has put aside funds to support faculty renewal, which was a national effort intended to secure the future of academia in Ghana. He said that the Fund would provide scholarships for young people interested in careers in academia, who would return to take the places of retiring members of faculty in Ghana's universities.
The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu
The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, highlighted several areas of collaboration between the University of Ghana and Oxford. He was happy that these partnerships were going to be extended through the AfOx initiative. He said the University was a good choice for hosting the launch as it remains the gateway to Africa, considering its position as one of the best universities on the continent.
“We are the only university in Ghana that is currently ranked in the Times Higher Education Rankings and the top-ranked University in West Africa,” Prof. Oduro Owusu said. “The key strategy for our success has been forging strong partnerships. The power of partnership in education cannot be underestimated by any university which aspires to enhance its international appeal and broaden the scope of its students and faculty and research.”
Prof. Oduro Owusu affirmed the University's commitment to ensure that mutual benefits are accrued from the AfOx initiative. He congratulated WACCBIP for its sustained relationship with members of faculty at Oxford, which, according to him, is a key reason AfOx was launched at the University of Ghana.
Prof. Gordon Awandare, Director of WACCBIP
Prof. Gordon Awandare, Director of WACCBIP, explained that the Centre's commitment to sustaining a relationship with Oxford was steeped, since its inception, in its goal to build a world-class internationally recognized Centre of excellence. He explained that the partnership existed even before the establishment of the Centre and has been an important factor in the continued support the Centre has received over the years.
“We have benefited a lot from the University of Oxford over the last few years. The establishment of the Centre was driven by partnership with the American Society of Cell Biology, and even though it is an American Society, a lot of the key members are in the United Kingdom; many at Oxford,” Prof. Awandare said. “People like Prof. Keith Gull, Mark Carrington, Richard Wheeler used to run workshops in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry and the spirit of those workshops turned into the Centre we call WACCBIP. Since then, we have leveraged our friendship with them to access so many grants and training opportunities.”
Prof, Awandare said the AfOx initiative was another welcome opportunity to broaden the horizon of the Centre in building the core strengths of its students and in improving the quality of its research activities through exchange of ideas and expertise.
Mr. Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia
An alumnus of Oxford, Mr. Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, renowned Ghanaian lawyer and Chairman of the Ghana office of ENSAfrica, Africa's largest law firm, spoke of his time studying at Oxford. He explained that Oxford was instrumental to his personal growth and that the values he imbibed during his time there have been vital for the success he has enjoyed in his career.
“In addition to an invaluable education, Oxford provided me with an amazing platform to live and study with some of the brightest minds from anywhere in the world,” he said. “In addition to an obsession for excellence, Oxford shaped me in two significant ways. The first is the consciousness of the responsibility that comes with privilege; and the second is the understanding of building legacy.”
He encouraged the students and faculty that would benefit from the AfOx initiative to make the most of the opportunity and return to make a lasting impact, leaving a legacy that will benefit future generations.
The event brought together more than 100 guests including Oxford alumni, members of the University of Ghana community, and the general public. Guests took advantage of the opportunity to network over cocktails, with many younger attendees getting to interact with illustrious alumni of both the University of Ghana and Oxford.
