Platform's inaugural Prafrica Workshop in Istanbul: Fostering African discourse, solutions
Platform's pioneering Prafrica Workshop in Istanbul facilitates African dialogue and proposes solutions to pressing challenges for African students
The inaugural Prafrica Workshop, organized by the African think tank, Platform in Istanbul delved into a spectrum of issues spanning health, artificial intelligence, economics and politics that Africa confronts.
Souandaou Athoumani Ali, a student from Comoros enrolled at Istanbul University and heading the platform, said that the workshop aimed at fostering idea exchange regarding Africa's challenges.
Established in 2019, the platform has been sifting through theses written in Türkiye to pinpoint topics for discourse, Ali mentioned.
The main aim was to present fresh perspectives on Türkiye's African studies through the lens of global scientific research, grounded in strategic and Afro-realist perspectives, he elaborated.
The event encompassed presentations spread over two sessions, covering a wide array of topics such as politics, healthcare, and artificial intelligence, Ali stated, underscoring that discussions revolved around solutions for African countries to tackle issues like infectious diseases and political instability.
Abdoul Fathi Sanogo, the general coordinator of the Platform, originally from Burkina Faso, disclosed that it was established in May and comprises African researchers.
Sanogo emphasized that the platform encourages active engagement from African researchers globally, not limited to those in Türkiye, and also collaborates with non-African experts.
Sanogo highlighted that workshop presentations were predominantly delivered in Turkish, emphasizing that organizers opted for Turkish as a lingua franca to amplify the voices of Africans residing in Türkiye.
The Platform reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing discussions where African perspectives are addressed, and solutions proposed by Africans are explored.
The workshop, as underscored by the event, aims to generate solutions beneficial to Africa.
Source: Newsroom
