Bridging Knowledge and Cooperation: LCBC’s Landmark Workshop in Diffa on the Future of Regional Research and Education
A training workshop to enhance the Knowledge Management Platform (KMP) and strengthen university collaboration in the Lake Chad Basin began on Monday, 7 July 2025, at the University of Diffa in Niger. Running until 11 July 2025, the event has brought together participants from the PROLAC Niger Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and lecturers-researchers from the University of Diffa. This initiative is part of the broader Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC), which underscores regional cooperation, academic growth, and the monitoring of research progress within the Basin.
The workshop began with a scoping meeting on Monday at the Operational Head Office of PROLAC Niger in Diffa. This session provided a foundation for the week’s activities, during which participants created individual accounts on the KMP, essential for fostering collaboration and streamlining information sharing among researchers and academic institutions across the region.
The official opening ceremony took place on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, marking the formal start of the training. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Diffa, Dr Moussa Mamoudou Boubacar, in his welcome address, warmly welcomed LCBC and PROLAC Niger experts to the university’s Amphitheatre. He emphasised the critical role of universities in supporting LCBC and PROLAC’s regional development initiatives, highlighting the importance of partnerships between academic institutions and regional projects like PROLAC. He reassured participants of the University’s ongoing commitment to enhancing research and academic capacities in the region.
The National Coordinator of PROLAC Niger, represented by the Diffa Office Chief, Mr Djida Adam, also delivered remarks. He stressed the importance of the training as a vital component of PROLAC, focusing on its role in assessing student research progress, fostering university collaboration, and enhancing the use of the KMP for improved knowledge management in the region. He urged PROLAC Niger experts to seize the opportunity given to them, to fine-tune and hone their skills on the KMP. The Niger PIU will ensure all their activities are captured in the Platform.
Mr Alio Abdoulaye, Coordinator of PROLAC LCBC, representing the Executive Secretary, spoke next about the broader significance of the workshop. He noted that the training would improve the management and evaluation of student research, facilitate better access to research data, and strengthen cooperation between universities within the Basin. He expressed his confidence that the outcomes of the workshop would contribute to more effective monitoring of university cooperation and support sustainable development across the region. He also extended his gratitude to the technical and financial partners of LCBC, especially the World Bank, for their consistent support of the Commission and its development efforts within the Basin.
The Governor of the Region of Diffa, represented by the Secretary-General at the Governor’s Office, Mr Mahamadou Attahirou Maidouka, delivered the opening remarks. He welcomed all participants and expressed his full support for knowledge initiatives in the region. He thanked LCBC, PROLAC Niger, and the University of Diffa for their dedication to the development of the Lake Chad Basin. He stressed the importance of strengthening local institutions and fostering regional collaboration to ensure long-term stability. He conveyed his optimism that the workshop would significantly enhance university cooperation and improve the monitoring of research and scholarship projects in the region. Mr. Maidouka concluded his remarks by declaring the workshop officially open.
Following the speeches, participants gathered for a group photo to commemorate the occasion, followed by a press statement emphasising the workshop’s role in advancing regional cooperation, research, and education.
Throughout the week, the workshop will focus on key objectives, including evaluating the progress of research by students and research fellows, discussing the scheduling of thesis defences, and strengthening the capacity of institutions like the University of Diffa in using the KMP. Sessions will also address updating the information matrix on equipment provided to universities, collecting completed research, and enhancing focal points’ ability to manage the KMP effectively.
By the end of the workshop, it is expected that the research work of all students awarded PROLAC research grants will have been assessed, and the outcomes of student defences will be shared for follow-up. The workshop is also set to contribute to the ongoing monitoring of university cooperation and the collection of valuable data to support regional development and research management.
