The Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS) at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, will formally induct eight distinguished professionals as Senior Fellows on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the AfDB Hall, AUST, Abuja, as part of efforts to strengthen Pan-African scholarship, policy engagement and sustainable development across the continent.
The inaugural cohort comprises accomplished professionals with expertise spanning diplomacy, leadership, governance, science, technology, research and innovation. They include His Excellency Ambassador Jean Robert Pillard, Haiti’s Ambassador to South Africa; 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; and Professor Abdulhakeem Bello, Vice-President (Academics) at AUST.
Others are Dr. Eunice Ngozi Akpala-Okoroafor, Acting Director of Research and Innovation at AUST; 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 go beyond a ceremonial gathering by establishing a sustained platform for intellectual exchange, research collaboration and policy engagement between the Centre and its fellows.
According to him, the initiative represents a strategic step towards harnessing the knowledge, experience and professional networks of accomplished Africans to address the continent’s development challenges and advance the ideals of Pan-Africanism.
The Senior Fellows will constitute a multidisciplinary network dedicated to supporting research on African development and Pan-African issues, facilitating policy dialogues and strengthening collaboration among academia, government, industry and civil society. The network is also expected to help translate research findings into practical policy recommendations and development-oriented interventions.
In addition, the fellows will contribute to mentoring emerging scholars and young African leaders, fostering strategic partnerships across Africa and the diaspora, and mobilising resources to support the Centre’s programmes and initiatives.
Through the establishment of the Senior Fellows Network, CePAPS seeks to bridge the gap between academic scholarship, professional expertise and development practice, ensuring that research findings and policy recommendations respond effectively to the continent’s evolving needs and priorities.
In a statement issued by the Director of the Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies, Prof. Chudi Uwazurike, the Centre reaffirmed its commitment to advancing scholarship, constructive dialogue and practical interventions that promote African unity, peace, innovation and sustainable development.
He said the forthcoming induction was expected to 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.
 at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, will formally induct eight distinguished professionals as Senior Fellows on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the AfDB Hall, AUST, Abuja, as part of efforts to strengthen Pan-African scholarship, policy engagement and sustainable development across the continent.){kind=link}