PAULESI will ‘maximise students’ knowledge, skills’

The president of the Pan African University Council, Professor Kenneth Matengu, has said that the newly launched PAULESI Incubation Centre of Excellence attached to the Pan African University of Institute of Life and Earth Science Ibadan, Oyo State will not just bring hope, but confidence that students of the institute would maximise the knowledge and skills gained from the institute.

Matengu, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, University of Namibia, at the launch of the new innovation held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, adding that, ” the innovation is not just about accessing what is good knowledge, but gaining a good understanding of what the problem is and what solutions to take”.

The Communications Manager, Victor Oyelade, in his presentation noted that the center had embarked on three learning excursions and facilitated several expert-led masterclasses including the Afrocentric Innovation Series which hosted industry and business leaders across sectors such as health, agriculture, climate change, drug development and sports.

Some innovations showcased at the event included football for the blind, cards with braille, eco-friendly sanitary pads made from banana fibers, and others.

The Deputy Director, of the Pan African University institute of Life and Earth Science (PAULESI), Dr Michael Oladunjoye appreciated the AfDB for the support and assured the guests that the launch was the beginning of many more unprecedented innovations to emerge from the institute and out of Africa.

According to the brains behind the innovation, the PAULESI Incubation Center of Excellence is financed by African Development Bank (AfDB) and operationalised by Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) with graduate students from over 40 countries in Africa pursuing MSc and PhD programs across different thematic areas in Environmental and Health Sciences.