On 14 and 15 October, the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN) held their first international conference on the theme, ‘Reimagining an inclusive society through governance, technology and social justice’.
The event was held at the University of Ibadan and brought together participants from a range of sectors, including academia, industry and civil society, alongside Commonwealth Alumni and students from the University of Ibadan. The event was available in person and online.
The role of COSFAN in convening international stakeholders
In his welcome address, Dr Ekundayo Samuel, President of COSFAN (2017 Split-site Scholar), introduced the role of COSFAN in connecting alumni of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) to support Nigeria in achieving its national development goals and contributing to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasised the importance of COSFAN as a think-tank, connecting experts across a range of sectors through solution-driven debates.
The main aim of the conference was to convene stakeholders in Nigeria and diaspora to deliberate on emerging national issues and interrogate interrelated activities, research and challenges.
Providing a unique platform
To achieve its overall aim, the conference consisted of three plenary sessions and ten scientific sessions across the two days, culminating in the presentation of over 60 papers. Professor Adejoke O Akinyele, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee (2016 Academic Fellow), observed that the format enabled participants to renew old and forge new acquaintances and partnerships, share experiences and expertise, explore innovative solutions to national and global challenges, offer insights into emerging trends and opportunities, and encourage mentorship and collaboration.
COSFAN hope to deliver the conference annually and to continue to support the generation of knowledge and ideas to support national and international development goals.
