Pan-African research network Afrobarometer has launched a capacity-building workshop at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) in Roma, aimed at enhancing data analysis and application skills among lecturers and students.
The two-day workshop, which began on Wednesday, is providing training to NUL’s Faculty of Humanities and 32 postgraduate researchers.
Participants are being introduced to Afrobarometer’s publicly accessible data sets and learning how these resources can be used to explore key social, political and economic trends across Africa.
The initiative seeks to empower master’s and PhD students by integrating survey data into their academic work such as theses and dissertations while equipping the faculty with tools to enrich teaching and research practices.
Speaking on the importance of this initiative, Kamal Yakubu, Afrobarometer’s capacity-building consultant, noted the pivotal role of such collaborations in addressing Africa’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
“This partnership is pivotal in equipping the next generation of Lesotho’s researchers with the tools necessary to investigate and decode complex socio-economic and political patterns, ensuring that local expertise drives national and regional discourse,” Yakubu said.
He noted that the collaboration “not only enhances the university’s research portfolio but also solidifies Afrobarometer’s commitment to fostering informed policy making through robust, home-grown data analysis across Africa.”
NUL vice-chancellor Isaac Olusola Fajana expressed optimism about the workshop’s impact, noting its alignment with the university’s objectives of advancing academic research and social development.
“This kind of training is exactly what our students need to advance social development,” Fajana said.
JN/APA