9th Annual Africa Young Graduates and Scholars (AYGS) Conference

AFRICA’S YOUNG SCHOLARS EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE AT 19TH AYGS CONFERENCE

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP), in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), National Research Foundation (NRF), Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), and the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), hosted the 19th Annual Africa Young Graduates and Scholars (AYGS) Conference.

The annual AYGS Conference, held from 04 to 06 March 2025, is a research capacity-building initiative established in 2005 to foster a body of knowledge and amplify the African voice in global discussions. It also aims to bridge the expertise gap in knowledge production on African affairs by nurturing a generation of young scholars and researchers.

Themed Enabling Africa's Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities, the conference brought together more than 100 young and emerging scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from across 15 African countries to share research-based insights and collaborate on solutions to the continent's most pressing challenges.

In her opening remarks, UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso emphasised the significance of hosting the conference in Mpumalanga, known as the "Place of the Rising Sun."
She noted that the University’s symbol of the sun’s rays represents life, warmth, and energy – values that align with UMP’s vision of being an African university leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation and research.

The Vice-Chancellor reflected on the importance of research-driven innovation as a cornerstone for addressing Africa’s challenges.

“The conference reinforces the University’s commitment to excellence, integrity, diversity, collaboration, adaptability, relevance, and inspiration.”
Professor Mayekiso also highlighted UMP’s strategic focus on capacity building, particularly through investing in the next generation of researchers and scholars.

“I encourage participants to engage deeply with the conference discussions, which are critical for shaping Africa’s inclusive and sustainable development,” she said.

Providing insight into the significance, history, and purpose of the conference, Executive Head of the African Institute of South Africa (AISA) within the HSRC, Dr Sabelo Gumedze, noted that the AYGS Conference, founded in 1956 and integrated into the HSRC in 2014, has consistently served as a critical platform for fostering collaboration among young scholars, policymakers, and practitioners.

“The conference has evolved to focus on addressing Africa’s development challenges through research-based insights and innovative solutions. It has received an overwhelming response to the call for papers, attracting 444 submissions, with 32 high-quality papers selected for presentation. This intellectual engagement reflects the commitment of Africa’s young researchers to producing practical solutions to the continent’s pressing challenges,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Tolullah Oni, Clinical Professor of Global Public Health and Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Cambridge and Founder/CEO of UrbanBetter, provided practical career advice and critical insights for early-career researchers across Africa.

Sharing her journey, Professor Oni noted that she never intended to become an academic, describing how a chance conversation while asking for a lift in Cape Town led to a PhD opportunity.

“My research journey was not planned; it was shaped by embracing serendipity and finding my community. In 20 minutes, I had my next five years mapped out. I thought I was staying in Cape Town for a year, but I stayed for 12. That’s the power of saying yes to unexpected opportunities.”

She also reflected on the challenges of funding and rejection, stating that she did not secure PhD funding in the initial rounds.

“I worked full-time, studied full-time, and specialised all at once. It wasn’t easy, but the setbacks taught me resilience.”

Professor Oni encouraged researchers to embrace transdisciplinarity, emphasising that solutions to public health, climate change, and development challenges lie beyond traditional academic silos.

“Find your people in your academic family. Communities are how you survive and thrive. Every opportunity I have today stems from relationships I built along the way.

Don’t just follow the funding – define your questions. If you’re only chasing grants, you will miss the chance to create knowledge that truly serves your communities,” she said, stressing that societal disruption can be fertile ground for innovation.

“Disruption is uncomfortable, but it creates openings for collective action and transformative change. We must learn to see disruption as opportunity.”

Professor Oni concluded her speech with a powerful call to action, urging scholars to elevate knowledge capital to the same level as financial capital to unlock the potential of Africa’s young population.

“We don’t have time. Embrace those moments when the conditions are just right for change. The time is now, and the people we’ve been waiting for are us.”

The three-day conference attracted scholars from over 15 countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Presentations covered key topics such as:

Notable speakers included Professor Vusi Gumede, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Development, and Business Sciences at UMP; Dr Mbulelo Ncango, Senior Manager at the NRF of South Africa; and Dr Toyosi Craig, an accomplished energy professional specialising in energy within the mining sector.

The conference commenced with a pre-conference training workshop, setting the stage for robust discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Director of Research Management at UMP, Dr Naledi Nthite, underscored the conference's role in addressing Africa’s inclusive and sustainable development challenges and opportunities.
“As one of South Africa’s youngest universities, UMP recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The university now offers 78 qualifications, including 16 master’s degrees, and continues to champion innovation and sustainable development, aligning with the key themes of this year’s conference.”

Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures ©ChrisplPhoto.