The AfDB president disclosed this while delivering his
acceptance speech after receiving the Honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris
Causa) conferred on him by the Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
The award was in recognition of his contributions to science,
research and academic leadership; reforms and thought leadership as well as
significant contributions to Africa’s social and economic development.
The HEST project focused on three major areas: supporting
centers of excellence; ensuring infrastructure and training in specific areas –
agriculture and livestock
Other areas of focus include, health sciences and health
delivery support services, engineering, business enterprise, training teachers
and educational management – and strengthening links with the labour market so
that trained students can use their knowledge and skills productively.
He said the bank had also supported the construction of
modern diagnostic laboratory equipment, a biotechnology laboratory worth a $1
million, a Geographic Information Systems laboratory and a computer laboratory.
According to him: “The African Development Bank is proud to
have invested $96 million in the Higher Education and Science and Technology
(HEST) project which ended in 2019.
“Our support of $26 million to Makerere University helped to
construct two central teaching facilities, a four-story building with fully
equipped lecture and seminar rooms and a five-story building with an auditorium
with capacity for 1,000 seats at a time.
He said for Africa to make significant progress, there
should be equal opportunities for both men and women, adding that, “No bird
flies with one wing. Africa will progress faster when there is equality between
men and women”.
Also addressing the congregation, the Chancellor Makerere
University, Prof. Ezra Suruma, commended the AfDB president for his excellent
leadership in piloting the affairs of the financial institution.
Suruma said:“We thank Dr. Adesina for the excellent work he
is doing to uplift the African people and for honoring us with his presence
today.
“As the African countries struggle to overcome the huge
negative effects of COVID-19, I am sure that they will find a vital and
sympathetic ally in the African Development Bank”.
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