A growing number of countries in Africa are envisioning nuclear energy as an important part of their future. In this context, the Nuclear Energy Agency is engaging with African nations to help create opportunities for sustainable economic development through nuclear energy policy.
An NEA delegation last week travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to take part in the 37th African Union Summit. The Summit brought together high-level government officials, non-government organisations and private sector individuals to take part in discussions centred around enhancing education and skills for Africa in the 21st Century.
As part of the summit, the NEA jointly organised a round-table event with the OECD Development Centre and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) to explore capacity building in nuclear energy-related skills, businesses, and policies. The event was part of a proposed Common Journey initiative led by the NEA and the OECD Development Centre. The initiative is designed to support African countries to develop safe and sustainable nuclear energy programmes with a focus on building co-operative frameworks among ministries, universities and private industry to enhance skills and opportunities.
NEA Director-General William D Magwood, IV (right) and OECD Development Centre Director Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir at the jointly organised event Advancing Africa’s sustainable economic development: Building Capacity in nuclear energy-related skills, businesses, and policies.
NEA Director-General William D Magwood, IV, OECD Development Centre Director Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, and AFCONE Executive Secretary Mr. Enobot Agboraw delivered opening remarks to the group which was made up of Ministers, Commissioners, academia and research institutes.
African Union Commisioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Amani Abou-Zeid, delivered a keynote address which highlighted the African Union's strategic vision for harnessing nuclear energy as a catalyst for inclusive growth, underlining the importance of fostering regional co-operation and mobilising resources to support capacity-building initiatives.
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV was pleased to meet with AU commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid on the margins of the 37th African Union Summit in Ethiopia.
Head of the NEA Division of Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning, Rebecca Tadesse (left) and Professor Omano Edigheji, Associate Professor of Practice at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation, University of Johannesburg, participating in the joint event on advancing Africa’s sustainable economic development.
Keynote addresses were also delivered by Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union Commission Albert M. Muchanga, and Minister of State for Energy of Uganda, Sidronius Okaasai Opolot. A number of distinguished professors from Africa and North America participated in extensive discussions to identify areas of collaboration to advance nuclear energy education.
In addition to exploring the economic benefits that a sustainable nuclear sector could offer, discussions looked at nuclear energy's potential to diversify Africa's energy mix, enhance energy security, and mitigate carbon emissions in alignment with global climate objectives.
Director-General Magwood meeting with Commissioner Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development,Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union Commission.
On the margins of the event the NEA delegation including Director-General Magwood, Head of the NEA Division of Nuclear Science and Education, Tatiana Ivanova, and Head of the NEA Division of Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning, Rebecca Tadesse, visited Addis Ababa Science and Technology University where they toured the university facilities and met with faculty members and students. The delegation also met with various Ministers and Commissioners to discuss the Agency’s commitment to providing technical assistance, sharing best practices, and facilitating knowledge transfer to empower African nations in their steps towards developing a nuclear energy sector.
The NEA delegation visited Addis Ababa Science and Technology University where they toured the university facilities and met with faculty members and students.
