08 Mar, 2018
Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS)
Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana recently visited Makerere University as part of preparations for the 8th African Population Conference scheduled to take place in Uganda in November 2018.
Prof. Codjoe, who is President of the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS) was accompanied by the UAPS East Africa Representative-Dr. Yovani Lubaale and met by the Acting Director, Centre for Population and Applied Statistics (CPAS), Mrs. Agnes Ssekiboobo and a host of staff from the School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University.
L-R: (1st Row) Ag. Dir. CPAS-Mrs. Agnes Ssekiboobo, UAPS President-Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe and Associate Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye with L-R: (2nd Row), Ms. Hope Nzeire, Ms. Nabawanuka Juliet Zoe, Mr. Esau Atwongeirwe, Dr. Yovani Lubaale, Prof. Leonard Atuhaire, Dr. Abel Nzaboona, Dr. John Mushomi, Dr. Stephen Wandera and Mr. Adrian Ssessanga after the meeting on 27th February 2018, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Elated to be at Makerere University, Prof. Codjoe noted that both Makerere and the University of Ghana share the reputation of being the premier and largest institutions of Higher Education in their respective countries, adding that Makerere has always been the shining light; that beacon on a hill, despite all the challenging times the institution had to go through in the past. “Ever since I was a young man, I had always dreamed of one day visiting Makerere University, I am glad that this dream has come to pass today”. he added.
He urged the staff present to value the great University that they are privileged to serve and work hard to keep it shining. He also commended Uganda for sending a strong delegation to the 7th African Population Conference 2015 held in Johannesburg, South Africa, acknowledging that this showed the strong will and commitment of the nation to host the 8th Edition.
Prof. Codjoe in his presentation shared that the Union is a Pan-African nonprofit scientific organization established through the initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) by the Third General Conference of African Demographers, Statisticians and Planners held in Addis Ababa in March 1984, in order to promote the scientific study of population in Africa. The UAPS General Assembly; the main decision-making body of the Union, meets every four years in an African city.
The aim of the conference is to share and disseminate scientific information on key population, health and development issues facing the African continent and promote the integration of research evidence in policy making.
UAPS promotes seven scientific thematic panels which drive the research agenda of the Union. These are: African Census; Capabilities Approach in Population Studies; Fertility; Gender; Migration; Environment and Development; and Computational Social Science. Prof. Codjoe encouraged the Makerere Academia to take keen interest in the activities of these panels adding that UAPS strongly believes in capacity building, especially for young academics.
Speaking on behalf of the University, Mrs. Agnes Ssekiboobo shared apologies from the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. William Bazeyo, who was unable to attend the meeting in person. She welcomed Prof. Codjoe to Makerere University and thanked the UAPS General Assembly for choosing Uganda to host the 8th African Population Conference.
Mrs. Agnes Ssekiboobo (left) officially welcoming Prof. Codjoe to Makerere University
Also present at the meeting were; Associate Prof. Leonard Atuhaire, Associate Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, Dr. Abel Nzaboona, Dr. John Mushomi, Dr. Wandera Stephen, Mr. Adrian Ssessanga, Mr. Esau Atwongeirwe as well as Ms. Hope Nzeire and Ms. Nabawanuka Juliet Zoe from the National Population Council (NPC).
