Why Africa must showcase its best in engineering

Sub-Saharan Africa is in a race to catch up with most of the developed world.  [iStockphoto]

In October this year, Kigali will host the Global Engineering Conference (GECO) and World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) Executive Committee Meetings.

It is the largest gathering of the best minds in engineering in the world. This will be Rwanda’s latest confirmation of its intention to be a major player in engineering and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a launchpad for groundbreaking technology in Africa.

It is also an outcome of the government effort to position the country as a key destination for world class meetings through the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy.

For four days, world-class practitioners, academics and policymakers will discuss key topics seeking to unlock the formula for a sustainable and equitable world.

The conference is a proud moment for the Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER) and, most certainly, for every African in the Sub-Saharan region as this not only indicates the region’s ability to lead in crucial debates around global sustainability, but also paves the way for future high-level engagements in the region. For far too long, sub-Saharan Africa has been quiet and looked at as lagging behind.

This will be an opportunity for us to showcase not just our ambitions, but our roadmap to reaching our collective dreams. Themed “Engineering for A Sustainable Future”, the conference will be an ideal platform for engineering professionals in academia and industry, and policy-makers from Africa and beyond. The conference and the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) Executive Committee meetings will be hosted by IER in collaboration with WFEO.

Over 1,000 participants will immerse themselves in discussions around the place of engineering in development, especially of Africa – and in particular Sub-Saharan Africa- which is in a race to catch up with most of the developed world. 

It comes on at a crucial time when Africa is opening up for mobility of capital and labour, through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which makes such a networking platforms even more important. This conference will discuss six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that underline our leap into the future.

These SDGs are Quality Education (SDG4), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6), Industry, Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7), Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), and Climate Action (SDG13). There will be opportunity to showcase groundbreaking innovations and technological advancements around the globe as we join hands to set in motion solutions to some of the world’s problems.

We will have the opportunity to tell the world that Africa has more than a dream and that the fires in our belies are burning hot enough to melt away the world’s sorrows. And that we have the will and the manpower to take leading role in technology revolution.

Finally our guests will, after ruminating on the topics on offer, have a chance to savour the beauty of Rwanda, home to three national parks, including Volcanoes National Park.

-The writer is the CEO of the Institution of Engineering Rwanda