The Ghana High Commission in Nigeria has pledged its support and active participation in the 2026 International Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STICONF), assuring the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) of efforts to mobilize relevant institutions and stakeholders from Ghana for the event.
The assurance was given when members of the IMC paid a courtesy visit to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen regional collaboration and deepen African participation in the conference.
The delegation was received by Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Gladys Mansa Yawa Feddy Akyea, alongside other officials of the Commission.
Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the IMC, Dr. Fadipe, expressed appreciation to the High Commission for granting the meeting and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, describing both nations as “brother countries” with deep social, economic, academic, and cultural ties.
He explained that the visit was aimed at encouraging stronger participation from Ghana in STICONF 2026, noting that science, technology and innovation remain critical drivers of economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable development globally.
According to him, Africa risks falling further behind if countries on the continent fail to prioritize investment in innovation and technology-driven development.
“The economies of many African countries are still largely dependent on foreign technologies. Nations that invested heavily in science, technology and innovation are leading the global economy, while Africa struggles to catch up,” he said.
Dr. Fadipe noted that the conference theme, “Bridging the Technology Divide: Strengthening Research Institutions–Industry Technology Linkages,” aligns with the development agenda of ECOWAS, the African Union, and broader global goals aimed at building knowledge-driven economies.
He further described STICONF as a strategic platform initiated by the WelcometoNigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with support from an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives of more than 30 public and private sector institutions.
He appealed to the Ghana High Commission to facilitate engagement with relevant ministries, agencies and academic institutions in Ghana to ensure meaningful participation at the conference.
Also speaking, Co-Chairman of the IMC and Founder/Chief Executive of WeNDI, Mr. Isa Yusuf Sago, stressed the urgent need for African countries to embrace technological advancement as a pathway to economic transformation and poverty reduction.
He said Africa must create stronger links between research institutions and industry players to drive innovation and local production.
“Despite Africa’s growing pool of research institutions, universities and innovation centres, there remains a persistent gap between research outputs and industrial application,” Sago said.
He added that Ghana’s participation would enrich discussions and foster stronger continental collaboration on science, technology and innovation.
The representative of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) on the IMC, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Bununu, also underscored the importance of building synergy between research institutions and industries across Africa.
According to him, manufacturers on the continent continue to face rising production costs due to heavy dependence on imported raw materials and foreign technologies.
He warned that the lack of indigenous technological capacity contributes significantly to high import rates across African countries, putting pressure on local currencies and weakening industrial growth.
“STICONF is a platform that can help redefine Africa’s economic future by promoting technology, innovation and scientific advancement across critical sectors,” Bununu stated.
Responding, Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Akyea commended the initiative and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to programmes that advance regional growth and development.
She acknowledged the strong historical relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, noting that cooperation between both countries extends beyond trade and economics.
According to her, technology and innovation are essential tools for job creation, industrialisation and poverty reduction.
“A country with home-grown technology is a truly independent nation,” she said. “Africa must invest more in technology and value addition instead of exporting raw materials and importing finished products at high costs.”
Dr. Akyea described STICONF as a promising platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration capable of advancing Africa’s development through science, technology, and innovation.
Despite the short notice, she assured the delegation of the Ghana High Commission’s full support and promised to engage relevant institutions in Ghana to participate in the conference.
Officials of the Ghana High Commission present at the meeting included Dr. Tenewa Asamoah, Minister for Multilateral Affairs, and Mr. Daniel Crentsil, Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs.
STICONF 2026 is scheduled to hold from June 16 to 18 at the TY Danjuma Foundation Complex in Abuja. The conference is expected to bring together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and development stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening the link between research and industry for Africa’s economic advancement.