AFBA 2020 was the premier conference aimed at presenting and discussing current researches for policymaking, industrial development, field advancement and practices in Africa. It was held on Monday, July 6 on Zoom platform under the theme “Africa’s Future beyond Aid in the context of SDG’s”.
The Conference was chaired by Dr Seth A. Baffoe (Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus and President and CEO of trusted Health Care Consulting) and Professor Douglas Boateng (Professor Extraordinaire for Supply and Value Chain Management (SBL UNISA). The Conference kicked off with an introduction and presentation of the conference theme by the Chairman of the Steering Committee in the person of Mr Benjamin O.K. Baffoe. He emphasized on the need for reliable research work and its importance in the future. He added that we could make the Africa we want and achieve Agenda 2063 if we all put in our best. The Conference was graced by representatives from several African countries in the Diaspora such as Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar, Gabon, Cote-d’Ivoire, Togo, Liberia, Namibia and the United Kingdom.
During the morning session of the Conference chaired by Dr Seth A. Baffoe, authors presented on a wide range of topics such as Spatial Variability of Air Quality and Particle Emissions in Urban Areas of Anambra State Nigeria: A Comprehensive Assessment of Deposition and Public Health Risk, An Analysis on Data Sharing for Effective Health Monitoring in the Internet of Things, A Constructive Approach to West Africa’s Security Challenges: Reflection on Xi’s Idea of a Community of Shared Future and Exposing Ghana (Poem). Participants had the opportunity to ask questions after each presentation.
The afternoon session was chaired by Professor Douglas Boateng and saw presentations on The Dilemma of Sustainable Procurement: Challenges in Context of Principal-Agent Theory and Stakeholder Theory, Export, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: A Panel Analysis of West Africa and An Empirical Analysis on The Profitability of Microfinance Sector in Zimbabwe. There was a break out session where participants were divided into two groups led by panellists from the various countries who discussed “Africa beyond Aid in the context of SDG’s”.
Dr Michael Addaney (Conference Steering Committee Member) gave the conference review and outcome of the Conference. He praised the Moderators, panellists, presenters and organizers for such an insightful conference. He suggested the organization of such scholarly engagement to inform the policy development Africa needs for its sustainable development. He added that a special peer-reviewed journal be created for research from Africans solve the continent’s development challenges.
The Conference ended with a final address with a closing speech from Mr Benjamin O.K. Baffoe. He thanked all the Distinguished Guests, Chairpersons for gracing the Conference on such short notice, the Presenters for an insightful and educative presentation, Students Leaders from the other African countries, the technical team, the Conference Steering Committee Members, the National Executive committee of NUGS China for making the Conference, participants and audience. He hoped for the continuation of the discussion that had begun in subsequent discussions.
