DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC) successfully integrated its Batch 2 of her African Scholars Mentorship Network (ASMN) Premium members during an onboarding event held December 22, 2024. This milestone is a build-up on the conclusion of the Episodes in ASMN 4.0, an edition celebrated for its extensive international participation.
In his welcome address, Professor Evans Osabuohien, ASMN Coordinator and Founding Chair of DIaDeRC, shared that the network has trained over 1,000 participants across four editions, culminating in the creation of the Premium Membership category.
Professor Osabuohien lauded the contributions of Dr Taiwo Afolabi of University of Regina, Canada who was co-host and other facilitators to ASMN 4.0, emphasising its remarkable international presence among participants and trainers. He urged Premium members from Batches 1 and 2 to actively engage in their clusters, fostering opportunities for collaborative research, partnerships, and impactful networking, which are crucial for their invaluable contributions to advancing the frontiers of knowledge.
Reiterating ASMN’s mission, he shared the network’s aspiration to expand its presence to universities across Africa, with a goal of building a robust scholarly community. He also shared personal and member success stories, emphasising the professional growth and visibility gained through ASMN’s platforms and opportunities.
DIaDeRC’s Publications Lead, Dr Romanus Osabohien, introduced the enthusiastic ASMN Premium members to key aspects of research and publication, advising them to focus on reputable outlets such as Web of Science, Scopus, and ABS. He encouraged participants to explore partnerships, with DIaDeRC’s leadership ready to provide guidance.
In her remark, Dr Judith Ani, DIaDeRC’s Programme and Partnership Lead, urged new members to prioritise impactful collaborations, publish in high-impact journals, secure grants, and attend conferences. She emphasised ownership of grant opportunities and proactive communication in building partnerships. On a related note, Manager of Communication and Job Portal at DIaDeRC (Mrs Elizabeth Osabohien), delivered a session on ‘Leveraging Social Media for Career Advancement. She shared strategies for building a professional online presence, including using LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, X (former Twitter) and Instagram, effectively. She advised participants to maintain an active presence on at least two platforms, optimise post timing, and remain consistent in sharing content to enhance their personal branding.
Dr Alhassan Karakara, the ASMN Coordinator for the West Africa, urged members to make the most of the DIaDeRC and ASMN community resources. He introduced them to available clusters designed to advance their career prospects. For the Central African region, Dr Ngwengeh Brendaline Beloke shared her career growth experiences through ASMN and encouraged new Premium members to embrace the opportunities ahead like she did after attending ASMN 1.0. Prior to that she has not left the shores of Cameroon, her home country. In a similar manner, Dr Neema Kumburu, the ASMN Coordinator for East Africa, used her experience of recent promotion to Associate Professor, Fellowship in Finland and CODESRIA General Assembly participation, to admonish participants.
The onboarding of Batch 2 ASMN Premium Members sets the stage for a year of impactful research, collaboration, and career advancement across Africa’s academic landscape. The participants were grateful of the opportunities as they joyfully expressed especially with the profiling to give them more visibility.
