ABUJA, Nigeria — The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, through its Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS), will induct eight distinguished professionals as Senior Fellows on Monday, October 26, 2026, to strengthen Pan-African scholarship, policy engagement and sustainable development across Africa.
The ceremony, scheduled to take place at the AfDB Hall at AUST, will bring together professionals with expertise in diplomacy, governance, leadership, science, technology, research and innovation.
The initiative aims to establish a multidisciplinary network that connects academic research with policymaking and practical development solutions, drawing on the experience and professional networks of accomplished Africans to address the continent’s challenges.
The inaugural cohort includes Ambassador Jean Robert Pillard, Haiti’s Ambassador to South Africa; Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), leadership architect, management turnaround expert and Executive Vice Chairman of Penhall Consult; and Professor Abdulhakeem Bello, Vice-President (Academics) at AUST.
Others are Dr. Eunice Ngozi Akpala-Okoroafor, Acting Director of Research and Innovation at AUST; Dr. Jerry Uchenna Nwohu, Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dr. Vitalis Chioh Anye, Head of Materials Science and Engineering at AUST; Dr. Maryam Ma’aruf Yakubu, Director of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO); and Ambassador Gregory Uwemedimo Okon, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.
CePAPS seeks stronger research-policy collaboration
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Centre Leader of CePAPS, Dr. Bosco Okolo-obi, said the induction was designed to go beyond a ceremonial event by establishing a sustained platform for intellectual exchange, research collaboration and policy engagement between the Centre and its fellows.
He said the initiative represented a strategic effort to harness the knowledge, experience and professional networks of accomplished Africans to address development challenges and advance the principles of Pan-Africanism.
According to the Centre, the Senior Fellows Network will support research on African development and Pan-African issues, facilitate policy dialogues and strengthen collaboration among universities, government institutions, industry and civil society.
The network is also expected to help translate research findings into practical policy recommendations and development-oriented interventions.
By bringing together professionals from diverse disciplines, CePAPS aims to encourage evidence-based policymaking and strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and the practical challenges facing African economies and institutions.
Fellows to mentor emerging African leaders
Beyond research and policy engagement, the Senior Fellows are expected to mentor emerging scholars and young African leaders, develop strategic partnerships across Africa and the diaspora, and mobilise resources to support the Centre’s programmes.
Their combined expertise in diplomacy, public administration, science, engineering, research and organisational leadership is expected to broaden the Centre’s engagement with stakeholders and support initiatives addressing the continent’s development priorities.
The network will also seek to bridge the gap between academic scholarship, professional expertise and development practice, ensuring that research findings and policy recommendations respond to Africa’s evolving economic, political and social needs.
Stronger links between researchers and decision-makers can help African institutions develop more practical responses to challenges involving governance, peacebuilding, technological innovation and sustainable economic growth.
For AUST, the initiative provides an opportunity to strengthen its engagement with experienced professionals and expand the contribution of academic research to policy development across the continent.
AUST reaffirms commitment to African unity and sustainable development
In a statement issued by the Director of the Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies, Professor Chudi Uwazurike, CePAPS reaffirmed its commitment to advancing scholarship, constructive dialogue and practical interventions that promote African unity, peace, innovation and sustainable development.
Uwazurike said the forthcoming induction was expected to mark a significant milestone in the Centre’s efforts to deepen intellectual engagement, strengthen policy-oriented research and build partnerships that contribute to Africa’s collective progress.
The establishment of the Senior Fellows Network is intended to create a lasting platform for collaboration, drawing on the fellows’ professional experience and institutional connections to advance the Centre’s research and development objectives.
The initiative reflects a broader ambition to ensure that African scholarship contributes more directly to public policy, institutional development and practical solutions to the continent’s challenges.
The success of the network will ultimately depend on its ability to translate the fellows’ expertise into measurable outcomes through collaborative research, mentoring, policy engagement and strategic partnerships.
The October 26 induction is expected to formally launch this effort.
