Book of Abstracts
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Date
2016
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Njala University Society for Academic Advancement
Abstract
Building research capacity is about creating enabling settings for conducting and communicating research effectively and in a timely manner. In 2014, the Njala University Society for Academic Advancement (NUSAA) held its first research conference, which allowed scholars from institutions across the country to share research and innovative papers and posters in various fields of study. The event took place in Auditorium and Faculty Building at Njala University in Sierra Leone This initiative fosters human capacity development and, therefore, has been sustained through annual NUSAA research conferences. Future events would take place in other towns and cities. The outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone prevented a second annual research conference in 2015.
Professor Monte Jones (now Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security) gave the keynote address in the opening ceremony of the first conference on the topic, Food Security: A Pre-requisite for Sustainable Development – An African Perspective. Prof. Jones said that, “Africa is on the rise . . . because this generation of Africans has decided on commencing an African renaissance dedicated to democracy, good governance and greater economic opportunities.” NUSAA recognizes Africa’s potential to rise and we believe this could be accomplished by strengthening the research capacity of individuals, institutions and societies. Our goal is to provide the enabling environment for scholars to individually and collectively develop their abilities to perform research and communicate their findings effectively, efficiently and sustainably.
NUSAA organized the second Annual Research Conference on the 3rd–5th May 2016 at Njala University. Professor Osman Sankoh, the Executive Director of INDEPTH NETWORK in Ghana, gave the keynote address. Professor Sankoh laid emphasis on collaboration and synergy through which more can be achieved with greater impact as people work together toward achieving joint and shared goals. The conference theme was, “Building Resilience through Research” and papers were presented in Agriculture, Education, Health and Nutrition, Humanities, Language and Cultural Studies, Natural Resources and Postharvest Technology.
NUSAA will provide additional opportunities for scholars to effectively communicate their research through a variety of other platforms. Plans are underway and soon we will establish a peer reviewed journal with online and hardcopy publications. Training workshops would be organized aimed at helping young researchers understand how to achieve the highest quality for each mode of scientific communication. Research is meant to inform action and, therefore, NUSAA will always ensure standards in producing knowledge, improving practice and informing policy debate.
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Book of Abstracts