Conference Organisers

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University of Ilorin, Nigeria

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1975 with a vision to be an international centre of excellence in learning, research, probity, and service to humanity. The institution has a mission to provide a world-class environment for learning, research, and community service. With an undergraduate student population of 50,833 across 16 faculties running 90 academic programmes and a staff strength of about 4,474, the University of Ilorin has remained the most sought-after University in Nigeria over the past five years, with the highest number of applicants. The faculties run both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and currently have over 7,000 students running postgraduate programmes. The University has intentionally promoted research on innovation in all fields. Towards this end, the institution established CREDIT (Center for Research, Development, and In-house Training) to coordinate innovative research across faculties and instituted the office of a Deputy Vice- Chancellor Research, Technology, and Innovation. UNILORIN has established relationships with universities worldwide, carrying out academic exchanges, scientific research cooperation, and providing opportunities for international students. The university is also poised for research and encourages academic staff to seek fellowship opportunities worldwide while providing the necessary support. The school is strategically located in the middle belt Zone of the country, about 500 km from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. UNILORIN currently hosts the secretariat of NigeriaLics.

For more information about UNILORIN, visit https://www.unilorin.edu.ng/about-us/

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The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy was established in 2011 under the banner of the Ministry of Communication Technology, the inception marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s quest for a knowledge-based economy and an inclusive information society.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy journey began with a deep-seated belief in the power of connectivity and the boundless potential of digital innovation with the understanding that in the digital age, access to information and technology is not just a luxury; it’s a fundamental right. And so, with unwavering determination, the ministry set out to bridge the digital divide that had long separated Nigeria’s urban centers from its rural heartlands.
At our core, we exist to catalyze a technological revolution. Our mission is clear: we leverage the power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to fuel job creation, ignite economic growth, and illuminate the path to transparent governance.
Our roots lie in a vision to nurture a vibrant knowledge-based economy that resonates with the dynamic spirit of Nigeria. From the very beginning, we embraced the power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a cornerstone of our nation’s growth and development.

For more information about the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, visit https://fmcide.gov.ng/
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NigeriaLics

This is the AfricaLics Chapter in Nigeria, whose mission and vision are modelled around those of AfricaLics. In view of this, NigeriaLics is the acronym for the Nigerian Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems. NigeriaLics brings together scholars, researchers, and policy analysts who study development, innovation, learning, and competence building within and outside Nigeria.
The overall vision of NigeriaLics is to facilitate the production and use of high-quality research in the field of innovation and development with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria. As such, it works to support Nigerian scholars, especially early career researchers, to produce research in the field of innovation studies that is at the global frontier and is relevant for policy and practice including resolving developmental challenges of Nigerian communities.
The NigeriaLics perspective is systemic, socio-economic, institutional, evolutionary, and policy- oriented, seeking to support an inclusive development process. It recognizes that innovation and development are value-laden concepts and provides a space for exploring the consequences of the choices made in the innovation process. It aims to promote inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The network emphasizes interactive learning and promotes plurality in terms of research approach, methodology and theoretical perspectives. NigeriaLics fosters a culture where serious research discussions take place in an open and friendly atmosphere. NigeriaLics provides a platform for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in all parts of Nigeria as well as with partners both in the South and in the North.
For more information about NigeriaLics, visit https://nigerialics.ng/about/
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AfricaLics

The African Network of Researchers in Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics) is the African regional network for researchers involved in innovation and development research with a specific interest in promoting learning, innovation and competence building systems approaches. The network currently includes scholars from Algeria, Cameroon, Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  
The formation of AfricaLics was centered on the following two rationales:
  • A need to understand innovation and learning in the context of Africa – both from theoretical and practical perspectives.
  • Given the fact that Africa lacks adequate capacity for the above purpose, a need for capacity building arose. 
It was envisioned that the AfricaLics network could become a strong dynamo for capacity building in the specific field of innovation and economic development, both at the individual, institutional and country levels. This can allow African countries to design policies suitable and responsive to their own needs, and instigate corrective measures to ensure the smooth production, dissemination and use of knowledge for economic development, including poverty alleviation. 
AfricaLics has received funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) to conduct research capacity building activities to build research capabilities in the field of innovation and development. This includes funding to support a bi-annual research conference.

Contacts

AfricaLics Secretariat
African Centre for Technology Studies
ICIPE, Duduville Campus, Kasarani
P.O. Box 45917 - 00100
Nairobi - Kenya

Email: secretariat [at] africalics.org
Tel: +254 710 607210

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