Strengthening UK-West Africa Science, Technology and Innovation Partnerships for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
Strengthening UK-West Africa Science, Technology and Innovation Partnerships for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology (FMIST) and Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST) has announced the official launch of Sankore, a £1.9m initiative aimed at boosting science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) ecosystems in West Africa.
Sankore, part of the UK- Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP) Programme will strengthen UK ties with Nigeria and Ghana, supporting key agreements like the UK-Ghana ST&I Strategy (2023- 2027) and the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership signed in November 2024 by our Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP and Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
Focusing on Nigeria and Ghana, Sankore will work closely with actors in West Africa to:
* Support the operationalisation of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) and the Nigeria National Research Fund (NRF).
* Support Nigeria to operationalise its National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC).
* Facilitate the commercialisation of innovative solutions in priority economic sectors such as agriculture and energy;
* Enhance the policy and regulatory environment for innovation, improving data accessibility and transparency for ecosystem actors;
* Establish a demand-driven Helpdesk supporting FCDO and government partners, providing expert guidance and advice.
Speaking at the programme launch in Abuja, UK’s Head of Intergrated Strategy and Delivery Unit, Ms. Susan Mshana, explained that the Sankore programme is an exciting addition that will strengthen the UK’s long-term partnership with West Africa governments and drive economic growth through innovation.
“By leveraging our skills, resources and expertise, we aim to accelerate shared goals of economic diversification job creation and improved service delivery in Nigeria and Ghana,” She added.
Also speaking, Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST) Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, said:
“Innovation is a key enabler of a strong and inclusive economy. Sankore will be a catalyst to securing Ghana’s future as a hub for scientific advancement and technological innovation in the region, and we look forward to collaborating with the many partners who are bringing knowledge and expertise to this joint endeavour.”
Additionally, the Hon. Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Nigeria, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji said:
“Our goal at the FMIST is to foster sustainable development by promoting homegrown innovation while integrating global scientific advancements to ensure Nigeria’s progress on the global stage and Sankore represents an important next phase in our valued and productive partnership with the UK in driving a brighter future for all Nigerians through cutting-edge technology and economic progress.”
Sankore will be delivered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Results for Development (R4D) collaborating with local and international partners to ensure effective implementation and knowledge transfer.
The initiative will run for 15-month, concluding by 31 March 2026.
Note to Editors:
* Through its Multisectoral Regional Office for West Africa in Dakar, Senegal, and its national offices in Abuja and Accra, UNESCO will collaborate with national and regional partners including the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) to strengthen the national ST&I systems to contribute to achieving Nigeria’s and Ghana’s development priorities as well as advance and promote science in the interests of peace and sustainable development, in close collaboration with its Member States and various partners.
* The Results for Development(R4D), a global non-profit with offices in Nigeria and Ghana which has been at the forefront of development innovation through its management of initiatives such as the UK Frontier Technologies Hub, the Global EdTech Hub, the International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) and the Million Lives Collective (MLC) will work with local partners such as the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce in Ghana and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), to ensure Sankore and government partners in FMIST and MEST are able to benefit from local, regional and global expertise.
Further Information:
* For more information on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office.
* For more information on the Africa Technology & Innovation Partnerships programme (ATIP), please visit: https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-300704/summary
* For more information on the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology (FMIST), please visit: https://scienceandtech.gov.ng/
* For more information on the Ghana Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST), please visit: https://mesti.gov.gh/
* For more information on UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector, please visit : Natural Sciences | UNESCO<https://www.unesco.org/en/natural-sciences>
* For more information on the Results for Development Institute (R4D), please visit www.r4d.org<http://www.r4d.org/>
Photo Caption:
Picture 1: The symbolic launch of the Sankore project by Hon. Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Ghana and Hon. Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, FMIST, Nigeria.
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