AUST, PAOSMI Host Pre-Conference Meeting for the 2nd African Cassava Conference (ACC 2025)

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, in collaboration with the African Cassava Conference (ACC) Steering Committee, hosted a pre-conference meeting ahead of the 2nd African Cassava Conference (ACC 2025) scheduled to hold from November 17–19, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The meeting brought together members of the organizing committee, stakeholders, and partners both physically and online to review progress reports, finalize program plans, and assess readiness for the upcoming continental event themed “Building Sustainable and Quality-Driven Cassava Industries in Africa.”

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Peter Azikiwe Onwualu, FAS President of AUST, highlighted the university's innovation-driven mandate, the institution’s Innovation Hub, its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and its active partnerships with both private and public sectors.

Prof. Onwualu expressed the university’s delight in hosting and supporting the ACC 2025, while formally welcoming the committee to the AUST community.

Responding, Dr Henry Emejuo, DG/CEO, PAOSMI, for the ACC 2025 Conference, expressed appreciation to AUST for its collaboration and support.

He emphasized the importance of the upcoming event, describing ACC 2025 as the next major milestone for Africa’s cassava sector, aimed at advancing sustainability, innovation, and value addition within the cassava value chain.

The meeting also featured the presentation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, which outlines the structure for tracking, measuring, and reporting the conference’s outcomes before, during, and after the event.

The framework includes a clear logframe, reporting indicators, and key performance metrics to guide the Steering Committee, sponsors, and stakeholders in ensuring a measurable and lasting impact.

A draft of the ACC 2025 Conference Program was presented for review, during which members made observations and contributions.

Speaking during the meeting, Mrs. Ugo Chijioke, a member of the organizing committee, expressed her excitement over her membership of the steering committee and pledged her commitment to ensuring its success.