National Liaison Officers (NLOs) and National Coordinators of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA-NCs) from 37 countries in Africa gathered in Abuja, Nigeria to assess and improve the implementation of the IAEA technical cooperation (TC) programme on the continent. The meeting served to review progress and provide a reporting platform on the regional TC programme.
Held from 21 to 25 March, the annual meeting provided an opportunity for 51 African stakeholders of the TC programme to exchange views on policy, strategy and programme-level issues relevant to both NLOs and AFRA-NCs. Participants considered how Africa can continue the momentum and further increase the impact of IAEA support; how stakeholders and the IAEA can forge new, and optimise existing, partnerships; and how synergies can be built to improve coordination among African nuclear institutions to ensure that available resources are leveraged in the most efficient way possible.
The opening session was chaired by Yusuf Ahmed, Chairman and Chief Executive of NAEC and NLO of Nigeria, whose remarks were followed by high-level government participants of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including representatives of Boss Mustafa, Secretary to the Government; Dr Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister for Science and Technology; and the Director General of the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).
“This meeting was an opportunity for participants to discuss strategies to improve the implementation of capacity building activities, the delivery of expert advice and the exchange of knowledge among African nuclear experts and decision-makers,” said Yusuf Ahmed, Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), in his opening remarks.