By Seun Ibiyemi
The Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS) at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, is set to induct eight distinguished professionals as Senior Fellows on October 26, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening Pan-African scholarship, policy engagement and sustainable development across the continent.
The induction ceremony, scheduled to hold at the AfDB Hall, AUST, Abuja, will bring together accomplished professionals from diplomacy, governance, academia, science, technology, research and innovation to support the Centre’s mission of advancing African unity and development.
The inaugural cohort includes Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), leadership architect, management turnaround expert and Executive Vice Chairman of Penhall Consult.
Other inductees are His Excellency Ambassador Jean Robert Pillard, Haiti’s Ambassador to South Africa; Professor Abdulhakeem Bello, Vice-President (Academics) at AUST; and Dr. Eunice Ngozi Akpala-Okoroafor, Acting Director of Research and Innovation at the university.
The list also features Dr. Jerry Uchenna Nwohu, Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dr. Vitalis Chioh Anye, Head of Materials Science and Engineering at AUST; Dr. Maryam Ma’aruf Yakubu, Director of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO); and Ambassador Gregory Uwemedimo Okon, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Centre Leader of CePAPS, Dr. Bosco Okolo-obi, said the induction was designed to establish a lasting platform for intellectual exchange, collaborative research and policy engagement rather than serve as a purely ceremonial event.
He said the initiative would enable the Centre to harness the knowledge, professional experience and networks of accomplished Africans to address the continent’s development challenges and advance the principles of Pan-Africanism.
According to him, the Senior Fellows Network would provide a multidisciplinary platform for connecting academic research with practical policy development and implementation.
The network is expected to support research on African development and Pan-African issues, facilitate policy dialogues and strengthen cooperation among universities, government institutions, private-sector organisations and civil society groups.
The initiative also seeks to ensure that research findings are translated into practical recommendations capable of informing public policy and supporting development-oriented interventions across Africa.
Beyond research and policy engagement, the Senior Fellows are expected to contribute to mentoring emerging scholars and young African leaders.
Their responsibilities will also include fostering strategic partnerships across the continent and the African diaspora, as well as mobilising resources to support the Centre’s programmes and initiatives.
The multidisciplinary composition of the inaugural cohort is expected to bring together expertise in leadership, diplomacy, governance, public administration, science and technology to strengthen knowledge-sharing and institutional collaboration.
By drawing on the fellows’ professional backgrounds and international networks, CePAPS aims to expand opportunities for cross-sector partnerships and promote solutions to challenges affecting African countries.
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The initiative is also intended to bridge the gap between academic scholarship, professional expertise and development practice, ensuring that research and policy recommendations respond to the continent’s changing priorities.
In a statement issued by the Director of CePAPS, Professor Chudi Uwazurike, the Centre reaffirmed its commitment to advancing scholarship, constructive dialogue and practical interventions that promote African unity, peace, innovation and sustainable development.
Uwazurike said the forthcoming induction would mark a significant milestone in the Centre’s efforts to deepen intellectual engagement, strengthen policy-oriented research and build partnerships that contribute to Africa’s collective progress.
The establishment of the Senior Fellows Network forms part of CePAPS’ broader efforts to position research and intellectual collaboration as tools for addressing development challenges and strengthening cooperation across African institutions.
Through the initiative, the Centre seeks to create stronger links between researchers, policymakers and professionals whose expertise can contribute to evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development.
The October 26 ceremony is expected to formally inaugurate the network and establish a framework for sustained collaboration between the fellows and the Centre.
With the induction of the eight professionals, CePAPS aims to strengthen its role in promoting Pan-African scholarship and generating practical ideas and partnerships to support the continent’s long-term development aspirations.
