Youths are the main beneficiaries and contributors of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In partnership with the Williams and Flora Hewlett Foundation, AIMS Cameroon through the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) launched a pioneering effort of spotlighting youth-led institutions’ contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The main purpose of the Next Einstein Foundation African Sustainable Development Goal Week was to raise awareness about sustainable development goals amongst underserved groups such as youths, women, and physically challenged persons as well as accelerate public participation in achieving set objectives across African countries.
This workshop brought together key players of the Sustainable Development Goal ecosystem, from public to private sector organizations, civil society organizations, academia, and government representatives to discuss their roles and contributions in accelerating the achievement of SDGs.
AIMS Cameroon, aligning with these goals, organized a workshop involving 101 participants which included women, youth-led organizations, people living with disability, entrepreneurs as well as academia. This event was held at the AIMS Cameroon facilities at Crystal Gardens (Limbe, Cameroon) on the 16e of October 2024, with Nathalie Wandji serving as the emcee, coordinating activities and engaging with the audience.
The event started with the singing of the national anthem and a welcome address from the Center President (CP), Prof. Dr. Mama Foupouagnigni, who welcomed guests and encouraged them to be attentive and engaging with the speakers because they are knowledgeable in their respective fields.
A keynote address was given by Dr. Charles Kimpolo (Director, AIMS Industry Initiative), who gave us the components of this NEF Initiative. This initiative runs on three main objectives. One, celebrate excellence, particularly of Africans in science and technology, second, inspire and empower a new generation of Africans to challenge their state in school in science and technology, and three, big change can create new opportunities for game-changing applications of science to improve the human conditions in Africa and globally.
In addition to these objectives, he made us understand that there are various activities meant to achieve these goals, one of which includes women and vulnerable groups participation and leadership. He believes in Sustainable Development Goals, the youth LED project showcase, workshops and skill-building sessions. Outreach programs, panel discussions and keynote speeches, network sessions and interactive stakeholder engagement were all part of key activities in this campaign.
This led to our first presentation Which came from Professor Fidele Ntie (Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Buea) on meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals through teaching and research and computer-assisted drug delivery. This presentation encompassed how his research over time has tried to address the Sustainable Development Goals through teaching, research and leadership. He equally made a significant contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting Health education, innovation, sustainable resource use, and global partnership.
These efforts help advance Science and development in ways that are both locally impacting and globally relevant, particularly by valorizing African medical plants for drug delivery.
Fidele’s presentation was followed by a demonstration presented by a youth from the University of Buea, Abe Tamgue Serge, who showcased the design and implementation of an electric wheelchair, with a solar charging system.
He gave his Inspiration as seeking to assist physically challenged students and parents, providing them with more effective but less costly, economic mobility aids. This was culminated by a demonstration of the wheelchair and its use. This served as an inspiration to many students at AIMS Cameroon who are aiming to bring a change in their various communities in different ways.
After the lunch break, we were very emotional after a discussion with Miss Adeline Ngwa, a painter by profession. Drawn to this career by the hardship in the country, she had to flee from her region of origin because of the socioeconomic crisis plaguing the North West regions of Cameroon, to continue following her passion, in a safer environment. This is an arena of women’s economic empowerment, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Another presentation was delivered by Dr. Etienne Wamba (Senior Lecturer, University of Buea & Researcher, Kaiserslautern University), who talked about the second quantum revolution. He believes there is a need to fix and allocate more investment in quantum research and education, as it will foster entrepreneurship and innovation, encourage high school and undergrad, see stimulation, and equally give room for grants and funding opportunities, foster development as well as develop quantum computer infrastructures.
He finished by implying that the quantum industry is still mainly in the phase of testing hardware and software approaches, but we should be mindful, as the future is shaped by quantum possibilities.
There was another keynote address by Professor Abebe Geletu (German Research Chair at AIMS Rwanda), who was peculiar about African sustainable future through science and technology. He brought out the blessings and critical challenges in the African continent and he approached some recommendations, convincing the audience we can do better as Africans.
This conversation gave room for the first-panel discussion on the topic of The role of Universities and STEM education initiatives in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Moderated by James Njong and the panelists involved Dr. Abebe Geletu, Dr. Etienne Wamba, a MasterCard Foundation scholar, Grace, Asuru and a teaching assistant, Dr. Miriam Sitienei.
This was a forum that gave room to share experiences and points of view from the place of a university lecturer, a researcher, and a scholar. This discussion was focused on how different panelists’ challenges in their positions as university lecturers, researchers, and students, and how they have contributed or are directly or indirectly contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in their different fields of study/interest.
This was followed by a conversation on the topic, Empowering Women And Girls Through STEM Education For A Sustainable Future. Done by Mrs Che Gillian of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, this presentation brought out the importance of STEM education in the empowerment of girls and women, and strategies to empower women through STEM education.
The presenter emphasized the fact that empowering women in STEM education will benefit everyone, as it will create more inclusive approaches to address global challenges and be more equitable.
This served as an intro for a second-panel discussion on The Role of Women And Vulnerable Groups In Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, moderated by Ms Aurelia E. Njomo. The panelists included Adolf Mbonyam (CASAF). Lombe Constance (VCF), Quinta Yuochi and Che Gillian. The panelists raised several challenges faced by women, young girls and people living with disability in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and significant barriers while suggesting some recommendations.
The. Workshop continued with a speech on Unlocking The Power Of STEM Research For A Sustainable Future For Africa, by Adolf Mboyam, CEO of Community Action Scheme Africa (CASAF), who addressed the audience on the important part that everyone has to play in achieving sustainable development goals.
The workshop continued with the handing over of gifts to 10 guests with disabilities, including five with physical challenges, three who are visually impaired, one who is speech impaired, and one on the autism spectrum.
AIMS Cameroon with the same objective of contributing to the attainment of the sustainable development goals reached out with gifts to 2 orphanages. We visited Children Full of Grace Orphanage where we met over 20 children in need of help.
Despite these trials, they are welcoming and cheerful.
AIMS Cameroon also visited the Save The Children Orphanage, with over 15 orphans being taken care of.
The Sustainable Development Goals workshop ended with a closing remark and a vote of thanks from the Center President Professor Mama Foupouagnigni, who expressed satisfaction with the engagement, conversations and question and answer sessions that showed interest in the SDGs and its importance in STEM education, women economic empowerment and influence policies.
