About

The activities started in June 2018 with three members of staff; the Director General and two young Master’s degree holders as members of staff. These staff concentrated on building the foundation and frameworks for operations. They also define communities of focus for the institutes’ research efforts and services. These efforts focused on attracting junior and mid-career scientists as well as students.

A remarkable progress was made in the promotion of research and translation among higher education institution staff and students through the organization of the 1st National Undergraduate Research Conference (NUSReC) in Nigeria in 2019.

 
The Institutes’ activities have covered significant areas like health, economy, environment, and agriculture. The efforts at promoting solutions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic were notable. Among the activities executed include formation of Research Cloud for Scientists, Students Research Group and International Campus Ambassador for Research Enterprise (I-CARE) for research promotion, Translation of CashTelex, a project on digitalization of assets for financial inclusion of all Africans.

A Governing Board exists to oversee the activities of FIRAT. This is headed by Dr. Drissa Toure, and Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota. Other members are Dr. Marta Vicente Crespo from the African Population Health and Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya and Dr. Lanre Moshood Omotayo from Hospice and Palliative Centre, Buffalo, USA. With the Branch office in Rwanda, the governing board has increased in size. The new members that joined the board are

1. Dr. Raphael Rurangwa, Consultant-  IFAD, Rwanda.
2. Dr. Liliane Umutesi, DVC- University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies.
3. Dr. Abdullah Baguma, African Leadership University (ALU), Rwanda.
4. Prof. Yinka Aboaba, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
5. Dr. Ibrahim Musobo IM International Consulting Group Ltd, Rwanda.
6. Dr. Sobur Badmos, University of Texas, USA

FIRAT has research and training divisions that house interconnected disciplines with the intent to optimize cross-talking and sharing, problem-solving, and evolving novel strategies to scale up the development of the people and their community.
It partners with institutions (government and non-government) organizations that have strong inclination for capacity building, research, and innovations for development agenda.

In pursuit of its vision of a happy people and a happy nation in Africa, FIRAT has established its first country office in Rwanda. This marks the commencement of phase 2 of the organization’s establishment program. The Rwanda office will serve as the headquarters for all FIRAT activities in the country, aligning with the objectives approved by the Rwanda Development Board in certificate of registration number 120814449 under the Company Act 2013.

All activities of the head office will be carried out in the new office and activities as approved by the Rwanda Development Board in the certificate of registration (number 120814449 under the Company Act 2013 ).

To achieve the vision, mission and objectives of FIRAT- Rwanda office, the following strategic pillars guide its activities:

1. Knowledge creation lead
2. Teaching, Learning and Inspirational lead
3. Technological, Innovation Management, and Translation lead
4. Accelerated Socioeconomic transformation opportunities lead
5. Development Ecosystem lead

These are operated through the following broad focuses:.

1. Research promotion and awareness
2. Capacity building projects
3. Collaboration/ networking
4. Consultancy Services