Islamabad (TDI): Reaffirming its steadfast support for scientific advancement in Africa, COMSTECH, the OIC’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, marked African Day with a renewed commitment to strengthening science, technology and innovation across the continent.
In a message of solidarity and celebration, COMSTECH highlighted a broad spectrum of initiatives launched under its current leadership to build capacity, enhance health systems, and empower African youth and women through targeted programs and regional partnerships.
Since its inception, COMSTECH has been instrumental in fostering scientific collaboration among OIC member countries, placing particular emphasis on Africa.
In his message for African Day, Coordinator General Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary described Africa as a continent rich in heritage and vast in potential, calling it the future of global innovation.
At COMSTECH, we are committed to utilizing the power of science and technology to enable sustainable development, raise local talent, and develop resilient communities throughout the continent, he said.
He further mentioned that COMSTECH’s initiatives have included hands-on training workshops in renewable energy, biotech, information and communication technologies, and environmental sciences.
Chaudhary added that through collaborations with institutions such as TWAS, the University of Lahore, ICCBS, and HUCM, hundreds of African scholars have been given fully funded research fellowships, technical training, and academic degrees in Pakistan.
In addition to academic support, COMSTECH has increased scientific research across Africa by funding cooperative projects that bring together African universities with counterparts across the OIC. These projects tackle major challenges like food security, public health, and climate resilience, Choudhary said.
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He further said that scientific conferences and seminars organized in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and other nations have facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered long-term institutional partnerships.
“COMSTECH has also taken important measures to improve health systems in African countries. A major 5-year action plan includes disease surveillance training, workshops on health policy, and virtual health networks. In partnership with the Islamic Development Bank and LRBT, COMSTECH has arranged cataract surgery camps in African countries Niger, Chad, and Somalia, trained ophthalmologists in managing diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and organized specialized workshops on issues such as leishmaniasis, neurology, and histopathology in cities like Addis Ababa, Kampala, and Mogadishu.”
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He said that efforts to assist in infrastructure development have resulted in the establishment of centers of excellence and Halal authentication laboratories, most notably at the Islamic University in Uganda and delivery of modern scientific instruments in Mauritania and Chad.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
