The West African Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA will strengthen their ongoing collaboration in the area of climate science research and capacity building. This resolve came to the fore during the working visit of Professor Emmanuel Ramde, the newly appointed Executive Director of the WASCAL Graduate Program in Sustainability and Climate (GPS), along with Professor Daouda Koné, Director of the Capacity Building Department at WASCAL Headquarters in Accra, Ghana, to FUTA on Friday August 30,2024.
The visit was aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts between WASCAL and Nigerian Institutions in the areas of climate research, capacity building, and sustainable development.Speaking at the meeting, Professor Ramde emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in addressing climate change challenges. He said WASCAL is committed to working closely with Nigerian Institutions to develop innovative solutions for climate adaptation and resilience and FUTA has distinguished itself for the successful achievement of this purpose, adding that the visit is a step towards building stronger ties and expanding WASCAL’s impact in West Africa.
Buttressing the point, Professor Kone noted that FUTA is giving visibility to WASCAL though many Nigerians are also being trained in other West African Countries. He appreciated FUTA’s position of filling necessary research gaps and emphasized more partnerships in the offing to expand existing programmes and involve more Faculties from the University. He also highlighted the achievements of WASCAL’s Capacity Building Department, underscoring the significance of training young scientists and researchers in climate-related fields, stressing that the goal was to empower the next generation of climate experts who will lead sustainable development efforts in the region.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji expressed her strong support for enhanced cooperation between FUTA and WASCAL, noting that the University is honored to host the WASCAL delegation and looks forward to exploring new avenues for collaboration. She reemphasized FUTA’s commitment to advancing climate science and sustainability, and the partnership would allow the Institution leverage WASCAL's expertise and resources to further shared goals.
Professor Oladiji highlighted FUTA’s dedication to climate research and the University’s ongoing efforts to address environmental challenges. She emphasized the importance of fostering regional partnerships to tackle climate change effectively, saying “as a leading Technology University in Nigeria, we recognize our role in contributing to solutions for climate resilience and sustainable development. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for us to exchange knowledge and ideas with WASCAL, and we are eager to participate in joint research projects and capacity-building initiatives.”
The Vice-Chancellor also praised WASCAL’s commitment to empowering young scientists and researchers in the region. She said WASCAL’s focus on capacity building aligns perfectly with the University’s mission to train the next generation of climate experts, hence the University was excited about the potential expansion for student and staff exchanges, which will greatly enrich the learning experiences of the community and strengthen the University’s research capabilities.
WASCAL is a German Government initiative in collaboration with West African countries on how to manage climate related matters. Recently the The Doctoral Programme in West African Climate Systems (DRP-WACS) under the aegis of the West African Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) domiciled at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA got international accreditation status by the High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES) based in France.