Fang Xin Leads Delegation to Visit Kenya and Nigeria

From November 24 to 30, at the invitation of Dr. Rispah N. Oduwo OGW, Secretary-General of the Women in Science, Technology and Innovation (WOSTI) in Kenya, and Professor A.D. Ighoroje, Vice President of the Nigerian Organization for Women in Science, Fang Xin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), led a delegation to visit Kenya and Nigeria.

During the visit to Kenya, Fang Xin met with Rose Nyanga, the head of WOSTI, and Professor Berhanu from the TWAS African Office, who provided an overview of their respective organizations. Fang Xin also introduced the CAS, the participation of Chinese female scientists in research, and the CAS-TWAS scholarship program.

While in Nigeria, Fang Xin and the delegation received a warm welcome from Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, President of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, and Professor Ahbor Ighoroje, Vice President of OWSD and a professor at the University of Benin. Professor Ahbor organized a roundtable meeting for the Nigerian OWSD national chapter, attended by nearly 30 CAS-TWAS scholarship recipients from the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, the University of Benin, the Nigerian Young Scientists Organization, and Covenant University.

In his opening remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences welcomed Professor Fang Xin, who traveled from afar, and expressed strong support for OWSD's activities in Nigeria. At the roundtable, Fang Xin discussed the current state of the CAS, the activities of the OWSD China Committee, and the CAS-TWAS and OWAD scholarship programs, receiving a warm response and high praise from the attendees. Professor Ahbor reported on the activities of the Nigerian OWSD national chapter in promoting women's scientific development. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on further promoting women's participation in OWSD activities and conducting technical training for women, reaching broad consensus. Four scholars from Covenant University in Nigeria, who are also CAS-TWAS scholarship recipients, expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to study in China.

This visit marked Fang Xin's first trip to African countries as the President of OWSD, aiming to strengthen communication with women in science organizations in Africa, enhance mutual understanding, and promote cooperation and exchange among OWSD national chapters. The visit achieved successful results and met its intended objectives.

Zhao Lanxiang, a researcher at the Institute of Policy and Management of CAS, Yan Xiyun, a researcher at the Institute of Biophysics, and other relevant personnel from the International Cooperation Bureau participated in the visit.

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