The year 2020 started like every other year for many people. Little did the world know that in the great year, a pandemic that will bring the whole world to its knees would break out.

COVID-19, a novel virus that originated from Wuhan in China last year made its way to every country leading to a total lockdown; various institutions, worship centers, sports centers, markets, playgrounds, and most businesses were totally shut down as a result of the outbreak.

The pandemic currently worsens Africa’s huge health, both infectious and non-communicable conditions, and has led to economic, humanitarian, and technological challenges.

As world leaders, scientists, health experts, and medical personnel across the globe continue to devise various means to prevent the spread of the virus viz-a-viz reducing the mortality rate and infected cases, it will be of note that women and children, particularly in Africa, are most vulnerable.

In this light, Africa Union is putting together a webinar series titled “Winning the Fight Against Covid-19: African Women Scientists Background” holding August 26, 2020, at 11.00 am – 13.15pm. The webinar will be explicating the deadly corona virus from the perspective of African women scientists.

The organizers believe that the pandemic has exposed the level of unpreparedness of most countries as well as their research and technological gap in ensuring adequate response to such emergencies. Thereby leaving most nations with the question of ‘How do we trigger Research and Innovation emergency action on the Covid-19 pandemic with a long-term view to responding to future outbreaks’?

The event, first among the series of the webinar, which is proposed to hold bi-monthly, is focused on a holistic view of the contribution of women in fighting the pandemic.

The webinar is expected to highlight the responses of women in trying to mitigate the impacts or effects of the pandemic and propose future interventions that can be harnessed.

Speakers at the event include Prof.Chinedum Peace Babalola, first female Professor of Pharmaceutical  Chemistry, University of Ibadan and the Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University; Prof. RefilweMafuya, Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research, Northwest University, South Africa; Prof. Catherine Ngila, Executive Director of African Academy of Sciences, Kenya; Prof. Theresa Nkuo-Akenji, Professor of Parasitology and Vice-Chancellor, University of Barmenda, Cameroun, Dr. Rosette Ndjib, Senior Research Scientist, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants, Camerounand Dr. Baya Guermouche, Expert in Molecular Immunology, and Physiology and lecturer at Tlemcen University, Algeria.

The host is Her Excellency, Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology of the Africa Union Commission while the event will be moderated by Prof. Esther T. Akinlabi, Director of AU- PAULESI.