Transformation for an Unscripted Future’ anchors AfSAI’s 6th Annual Research Conference at DCU

November 2025 — The African Scholars Association Ireland (AfSAI) convened its 6th Annual Research Conference at Dublin City University (DCU) Business School last Friday, bringing together academics, policy-makers and community leaders to interrogate the theme: “Transformation for an unscripted future? Possibilities from the past and present.” The day opened with AfSAI Chairperson Dr Felicity Agwu Kalu (Queen’s University Belfast), who called on scholars to ensure their work remains grounded in lived realities across Ireland and the African continent.

DCU Business School Dean Professor Dominic Elliot welcomed delegates and reiterated the School’s commitment to research-led dialogue on technology, health and inclusive growth. The morning’s spotlight address, delivered by Cllr Honore Kamegni, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, underscored the role of youth empowerment, sport and civic participation in building inclusive societies. “Transformation is not only personal, but collective,” he noted, urging institutions to “reimagine what is possible.”

A keynote presentation by Catherine Mahoro Coughlan, strategic leader, social entrepreneur and founder of Down to Basics (Dotoba), invited participants to scrutinise inherited systems and rethink how progress is defined. She asked whether Africa’s future may require “stepping back to what worked” in order to move forward, and emphasised the urgency of documenting community knowledge in forms that cannot be erased.

A number of sessions engaged directly with the theme of unscripted digital futures. Dr Charles Nwankire, Vice President of AI Product at J.P. Morgan, Ireland, delivered a compelling talk titled “An Unscripted Journey with AI in Africa.” His reflections on artificial intelligence, innovation and Africa’s digital transformation highlighted how the continent can leverage AI to leapfrog traditional obstacles across research, banking, transport and public services. His presentation offered a practical vision of how technological adoption, when locally informed, can expand opportunity at scale.

Equally powerful was a contribution from Dr Gift Sotonye-Frank of Queen’s University Belfast in her presentation, “Decolonising the Classroom for Transformational Education.” She challenged participants to rethink dominant pedagogical models and to create learning environments that reflect diverse knowledge systems, student identities and lived experiences. Her message underscored the importance of inclusive education in shaping future scholars and decision-makers.

Other presentations during the day focused on health, social care and economic development. Researchers shared evidence on mental health interventions for mothers with postnatal depression, on the internationalisation of indigenous African firms, and on the role of social public expenditure in supporting human development. Across sectors, a central thread emerged: transformation must be strategic, collaborative and culturally informed.

In closing, organisers emphasised AfSAI’s mission to support African scholars in Ireland and to strengthen research links between Irish institutions and African universities. The conference concluded with an evening reception in Dublin city centre, after a day that highlighted both the challenges and the possibilities of building an unscripted future together.