Before the opening ceremony, there was a public lecture delivered by Professor Gordon Awandare, Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at University of Ghana. WACCBIP is a World Bank-funded African Centre of Excellence. Professor Awandare spoke on the theme, “Building and Sustaining a Conducive Ecosystem for Globally Competitive Research in African Universities”. He emphasized the need for researchers to work with their colleagues in other institutions in building the research ecosystem. This was followed by a Q&A session in which participants expressed considerable interest in the development of an appropriate research ecosystem in Africa.

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, ARUA Secretary-General introduced the audience to the work of ARUA. He informed them about the work of the 13 Centres of Excellence.

In his remarks, Professor Idowu Olayinka drew attention to some of the challenges facing universities as they intensified their efforts to become research-intensive. He said the purpose of ARUA was to help African universities to overcome these challenges.

ARUA occupies space at the premises of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. Professor Samuel Sefa-Dedeh, Vice President (Science) at the Academy spoke about the need for ARUA and the Academy to work together in strengthening the research ecosystem in Africa. He pledged the support of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences for the work of ARUA.

After the public lecture, the Chairman of the Board of Directors cut a ribbon on a door to the ARUA Offices to formally open them. This was followed by a tour of the facility by invited guests and a reception.