Constructing and Strengthening Africa’s Knowledge, Research, University Training and Higher Education Area

Higher education, universities, research, knowledge and training in Africa suffer largely from lack of internal support from the Governments (with a few exceptions) and an external indifference and neglect particularly since the 1980s. Universities in Africa have not come out of the woods yet! In 2003 we wrote a book entitled: Putting Africa First: the Making of African Innovation Systems, arguing that for Africans to learn to engage with each other rather than continuing the habit of engaging through external actors constructing an African higher education, knowledge and research area is critical and necessary.