BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – In a bid to confront the rising spate of insecurity and criminal justice challenges confronting African states, the Pan African Forensic Conference is billed to commence tomorrow Thursday November 7, 2019 at the University of Calabar in Cross River state in order to review, evaluate, restrategize and apply what it takes to build and maintain strong institutions that produces effective security structures and criminal justice systems
The conference with the theme, ‘Application of Forensic Solutions to Security and Criminal Justice Challenges in Africa’, is to be attended by officials of ministries of Justice, Defense, State and private Security bodies, members of the executive and legislature and relevant stakeholders is aimed at creating a scientific/technological community’s solution-oriented researches to insecurity and criminal justice challenges facing Africa.
The event, which is to hold in the Senate Chambers of the University of Calabar between Thursday November 7 and Friday November 8, 2019, would be declared open by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu who is the Chief Hos.
Dr Emuobosa Orijemie, a leading Palynologist in Nigeria from the University of Ibadan is to serve as the Conference’s Technical Chair. The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, is to serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
Among other lead speakers for the conference are Mr Benedict Agweye, who is the EFCC’s Head of Forensics, Prof Bello Ibrahim, a criminologist from the Bayero University Kano (BUK), Barrister Oluwatomi Ajayi, Chairperson Research Committee of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Dr Victoria Enape Pro-Term President of the Chartered Institute of Forensic Professionals in Nigeria (CIFIPN), Mr Chukwudi Gbadebo Peter, CEO/Founder Geospatial Links Company.
According to a statement issued by the convening partner of the event, Mr Isaac Israel of Eagloid Forensics, the conference is geared at evolving a roadmap to achieving the following strategic goals:
“ PanAfrican Forensic Working Groups (PFWGs): When formed, responsibilities shall include but not limited to giving expert counsel, guide, monitor, advocate for the growth and development of forensics in Africa. Designated Country Representatives shall oversee the PFWGs activities in their countries.
“African Journal of Forensics (AJF): When operational, shall seek to produce high-value research work and publications of the uttermost standards on forensics in Africa. No matter your profession or specialty, this journal would help to promote your intellectual input on developing forensics and related solutions across Africa.
“Memorandum of Understanding on Forensic Education in African Academia (MoU-FEAA): Heads or representatives of Academic institutions are expected to sign to a commitment of creating academic programmes on forensics with the goal of producing graduates to professors in various forensic fields in future. As of now, no school in Nigeria offers any forensic program up to PHD level. That should change. But heads of academic institutions need to commit to the cause and that should begin at the forthcoming event.
“Pre-professional/Professional Forensic Team Creation for Institutions (PFTCI): Academic and non-academic institutions would be aided to setup their own Forensic Teams which shall engage in Forensics advocacy programs and awareness activities within their local communities. A pilot model is in place already as that of the Forensic Team University of Ibadan. So it is intended that academic institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary), medical centers, interested organizations can setup their own Forensic Teams across the continent to promote forensic activities, organize events, do volunteer work for communities, help sensitive the public on crime scene investigation techniques etc.
“Inter-Agency Forensic Practice & Implementation Strategy (IFPIS): Multi-agency and stakeholders Forum for collaboration on National Forensic Implementation Framework. This is intended to identify the hindrances to the adoption of forensic standards and practices within African law enforcement and security agencies and help develop a multifaceted roadmap that encourages acceptance and implementation of forensic investigation as the status quo to criminal and civil litigations in Africa. The essence of this is to at the least, reduce the red tape existing among government agencies in facilitating justice and ensuring the security and prompt response to emergency in our countries.
“Forensic Investment Developmental Fund Initiative (FIDFI): The initiative would seek support from corporate organizations and willing individuals under the management of nominated trustees at the conference. The initiative when operational, would be used to service grants for selected forensic projects, probono Forensic experts services for Human rights violations cases, equipment support for Forensic teams, basic CSI kits for law enforcement investigation units (such as local police stations, sexual abuse referral centers in hospitals) and Company registration assistance to forensic service providing startups.”
