The DAAD Alumni Association of Nigeria, in collaboration with the DAAD Regional Office Accra, has organized a two-day regional workshop in Zaria to empower early career researchers (ECRs) with essential skills, networks, and opportunities for professional growth.
Held from November 10 to 11, 2025, at the CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Main Campus, the workshop was themed “Empowering Early Career Researchers: Building Skills, Networks and Opportunities.”
The event opened with remarks from representatives of the DAAD Regional Office Accra and the President of the DAAD Alumni Association of Nigeria, Prof. Sola Ajayi, who commended the participants for their commitment to advancing research and innovation in Nigeria.
She emphasized DAAD’s continuous support for academic capacity building and collaboration across Africa.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Shaping the Future: The Role of Early Career Researchers in Advancing Knowledge and Innovation,” Prof. Abubakar Muhammad Bello of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, underscored the pivotal role of young scholars in national development.
He urged researchers to pursue innovative, high-impact studies that address real societal challenges while contributing to global knowledge production.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions on designing high-impact research, data management and analysis, academic writing and publishing, and leveraging artificial intelligence in research.
These sessions were facilitated by seasoned academics and DAAD alumni who shared practical insights on career planning, funding opportunities, and research collaboration.
Participants, drawn from both DAAD alumni and non-members across various Nigerian universities, described the workshop as timely and impactful.
They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing research excellence, strengthening professional networks, and fostering innovation within Nigeria’s academic and scientific communities.
The first day of the workshop concluded with a renewed pledge to continue building a vibrant research culture that supports early career scholars in shaping the future of knowledge and innovation in Africa.
COV: Khadija Kubau
