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Tag: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA)

  • NIIA expresses grief over ex-director-general Ogwu’s passing

    NIIA expresses grief over ex-director-general Ogwu’s passing

    The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has joined others in mourning the passing of its former director-general, Prof. Joy Ogwu.

    Its director-general, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, in a statement yesterday, said the news of her passing has left a void not only in the hearts of the institute’s management and workers, but in the diplomatic and academic community of Nigeria and beyond.

    Prof. Osaghae said: “Prof. Ogwu was a trailblazer in the truest sense, a visionary leader, whose career was distinguished. She was a scholar, diplomat, administrator, and stateswoman, who served our country with dignity and a sense of mission. Her legacy is etched in the annals of our nation’s history.

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    “As the first female Director General of the NIIA, she reinvigorated our premier foreign policy think tank. Her appointment as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequently as the first female Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations were landmark achievements that inspired a generation of Nigerians.

    “At the UN, her leadership was further cemented when she made history as the first Nigerian female to preside over the UN Security Council.

    “Professor Ogwu has to her credit several academic publications. The NIIA family join her children, grandchildren, siblings and the entire nation to mourn this colossal loss.  We are comforted by the extraordinary life she lived and indelible impact she made.

    “May her gentle soul rest in the bosom of God.”

  • Don tasks Africans to invest in innovation to compete globally

    Don tasks Africans to invest in innovation to compete globally

    Director of Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof.  Efem Ubi, has urged  African nations to prioritise visionary leadership, deliberate investment in research and development (R&D), and the aggressive pursuit of innovation, if they are to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving global landscape defined by artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation.

    Ubi spoke at the 2nd Covenant University Conference on Leadership and Development (CUCLed) held recently at the CUCRID Auditorium, Covenant University, Ogun State.

    The conference which had as theme: “Integrating Technology, Innovation and Leadership for Africa’s Development”, brought together public servants, academics, industry leaders, security personnel, and development experts for keynote lectures, plenary panels, breakout sessions, and youth-focused workshops.

    He criticised Africa’s continued dependence on foreign aid and its underfunding of scientific advancement.

    “Africa is not just lagging behind, we are at risk of becoming irrelevant. Allocating less than 0.45 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to Research and Development, compared to the global average of 1.7 per cent is a dangerous signal in this fourth industrial revolution,”  he said.

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    Citing China’s $94.6 billion R&D spent in 2024 and the strategic STEM policies in South Korea and Japan, Ubi contrasted these with Nigeria’s meagre N175 million allocation to the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2019.

    He painted a stark picture of underutilised African potential and the lack of intentional systems to support innovation.

    “In Asia, students are trained in nuclear chemistry, molecular biology, and AI. In Africa, fewer than 30 percent  of university students are enrolled in science or tech-related disciplines,” he added.

    Drawing from his academic experiences in China, Ubi described firsthand exposure to AI-driven labs, robot-staffed hotels, and tightly coordinated national education strategic.

    Among his core recommendations were increased STEM investment, youth-driven innovation hubs, local industry protection, compulsory technology transfer policies for foreign investors, and industrial clustering.

    Covenant University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof.  Timothy Anake, echoed Ubi’s call for innovation-led development. He described the conference theme as both timely and transformative.

    “Africa is brimming with human capital but held back by weak infrastructure and rudderless leadership. We must intentionally invest in innovation and build leadership systems that equip Africans to lead change, not just survive it,” he stated.

    Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Moses Duruji, emphasised the urgency of reforming Africa’s education system.

    He berated the continent’s failure to meet UNESCO’s 26 percent education budget benchmark, calling it a major barrier to youth empowerment and innovation.

    “We cannot compete globally with outdated curricula and chronic underfunding. Technology education must begin from the junior secondary level with revamped content in areas like AI, robotics, and digital engineering,” he said.