The Programme Director of the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation (Next Gen) Programme, Dr Cyril Obi, has announced that a total of 840 scholars in Africa have been awarded fellowships under the Next Gen Programme.
This was disclosed during the inaugural African Peacebuilding Network and Next Gen African Universities Seminar Series (AUSS-NG) held at the University of Abuja’s main campus.
Obi, who was represented by Ms Maimouna Cherif, Programme Assistant for APN and Next Gen, explained that the fellowship recipients consist of 563 Next Gen fellows and 277 APN fellows. He credited the achievement to the continuous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and the efforts of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC).
The SSRC, a leading global research council focused on advancing knowledge and nurturing social scientists, has been central to the progress of the initiative. Obi highlighted the significance of the council’s role in Africa, stressing that the APN and Next Gen programmes have contributed significantly to the professional development of Africa-based scholars.
According to him, “The programmes have supported the production of high-quality and globally visible research, facilitated the completion of doctoral studies, and positively impacted higher education and knowledge production across the continent.”
Obi further explained that the African Universities Seminar Series is an initiative of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Programme aimed at creating a community of knowledge and practice. He said, “This initiative allows fellows and alumni to design and organize seminars highlighting research results from program-supported projects. AUSS brings together former and current fellows, led by a Local Organizing Committee drawn exclusively from within the community to design, in collaboration with two program-appointed co-advisors, and organize this two-day national seminar.”
In their votes of thanks, co-chairs of the event, Dr Joyce Agofure and Dr Sani Adam, expressed gratitude to Obi and to his representative, Cherif, for her role in delivering his message. They also extended appreciation to the keynote speaker, Prof. Babatunde, for what they described as an incisive and thought-provoking lecture.
Agofure and Adam further thanked all participants from different universities across Nigeria for volunteering their time to attend what they called a historic and inaugural seminar.