ACE@10: Celebrating a Decade of Impact, Innovation, and Excellence

The 10th anniversary conference of the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program has ended in Accra, Ghana, with a renewed commitment to advancing Africa’s capacity to compete in the global knowledge economy through the development of a highly skilled workforce, cutting-edge research, innovation, and industry transformation.

Experts from the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and health sectors highlighted the enormous potential of AI in transforming and improving healthcare delivery, especially in low-resource settings like Africa. They argued that current use cases demonstrate AI’s viability as a tool for addressing healthcare challenges, reducing costs, and improving access and quality of care.

Delivering the closing address on behalf of the Minister for Education, the Deputy Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, expressed admiration for the exceptional quality of research, innovation, and diverse outputs showcased during the conference.

“I believe we have all been profoundly impressed by the exceptional quality of research, innovation, and diverse outputs gathered during this program. From the evidence presented, the ‘Research to Enterprise’ session provided valuable insights into the transformative impact of our centers on the communities we serve, demonstrating tangible improvements in the daily lives of key populations,” Dr. Apaak stated.

He commended the ACE program for its significant contributions to strengthening postgraduate education and driving real-world impact in critical fields such as health, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and agriculture.

Dr. Apaak further noted that the session on ‘Women in STEM and Leadership’ energized participants and amplified conversations on breaking barriers confronting women as they strive to play vital roles in national development.

He also underscored the importance of ensuring the financial sustainability of the ACE centers, especially as the World Bank’s initial support period comes to an end. According to him, discussions throughout the conference on sustaining and scaling the impact of the ACE program over the next decade have been crucial and will inform collective efforts to build upon past successes and drive greater impact in the years to come.

“We need to continue investing in research and development, particularly in areas aligned with our respective national priorities, and scale up advanced training programs to meet the evolving demands of our economies,” Dr. Apaak concluded.

By Madjid Diallo|| GhanaNewsOnline