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18 August 2025 | Story Somila Nazo | Photo Supplied
Prof Martin Nyaga
Prof Martin Nyaga delivered a keynote on Africa’s scientific leadership in genomics and global health at the African Academy of Sciences Summit in Accra, Ghana.

Prof Martin Nyaga, one of Africa’s foremost experts in genomics and global health, recently delivered a powerful call for Africa’s leadership in global science at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Summit in Accra, Ghana. 

As Head of the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Unit at the University of the Free State (UFS) and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance and Pathogen Genomics, Prof Nyaga urged the scientific community to recognise Africa not just as a participant in global research, but as a driver of innovation and change. 

 

A summit of vision and collaboration 

Themed Unpacking the Pact for the Future: Imperatives for Advancing Scientific Cooperation with Africa, the summit took place from 2 – 4 July 2025. Hosted by the AAS in partnership with the African Union, the Government of Ghana, the University of Ghana, and other global partners, the summit brought together leading scientists, policymakers, and international stakeholders to discuss Africa’s role in shaping the future of global science, research and innovation. 

The event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, and the former President of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo – a clear indication of strong political will to prioritise science, health and innovation across the continent. 

 

Advancing Africa’s voice in global health 

On 2 July 2025, Prof Nyaga delivered his keynote address, Advances, Opportunities and Priorities for Global Health in Africa. He highlighted Africa’s growing capabilities in genomics and public health, underscoring the opportunities for scientific leadership. 

Following his address, he joined an expert panel with representatives from Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria to discuss strategies for advancing scientific cooperation in global health. His contributions focused on: strengthening research collaborations; building capacity within Africa; increasing African ownership in health innovations, and enhancing the translation of research into policy and practice. 

Prof Nyaga also used the platform to spotlight the work of the UFS Next Generation Sequencing (UFS-NGS) Unit. As a WHO Collaborating Centre, the unit plays a critical role in pathogen tracking, monitoring vaccine-preventable diseases, and supporting public health preparedness across Africa and beyond. 

 “This engagement provided an opportunity to highlight the impactful research from the UFS-NGS Unit – not only in academic publications, but in demonstrating tangible public health benefits to policy makers,” said Prof Nyaga.  “It elevated the University of the Free State’s standing as a leader in genomic science, while opening new opportunities for collaboration for South Africa and the continent. Our research priorities are increasingly shaping global health and innovation agendas.” 

 

From Ghana to the G20 

The outcomes of the summit will feed into a communiqué to be presented at the 2025 G20 Summit, to be hosted by South Africa. Prof Nyaga’s thought leadership ensures that Africa’s scientific voice - and South Africa’s research priorities - will be represented at one of the world’s most influential multilateral platforms. 

For more information about UFS partnerships in Africa, contact the Office for International Affairs at partnerships@ufs.ac.za.  

News Archive

Twee broers lewer intreerede
2004-06-10

‘n Unieke geleentheid sal homself môre, 9 Junie 2004, voordoen wanneer twee broers - proff Francois en Janse Tolmie - tydens dieselfde geleentheid hul intreeredes aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) sal lewer.

Prof Francois Tolmie is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Nuwe Testament en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die impak van die metodologie op die verstaan van die Nuwe Testament. Prof Janse Tolmie, sy jonger broer, is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die rol van inligtingstegnologie in kennisbestuur.

Hoewel die studievelde vér verwyderd staan, klop die twee broers se missies wat betref die terugploeg van die verworwe vakkennis ten bate van die gemeenskap. Prof Francois Tolmie is nóú betrokke by dowes en Prof Janse Tolmie tap weer kunsmatige intelligensie ten bate van die mediese wetenskap en geestesgesondheid.

Prof Francois Tolmie verwerf die grade BA, BA Honneurs (Grieks), MA (Grieks), B Th en M Th almal cum laude aan die UV. In 1992 verwerf hy 'n D Th (Nuwe Testament) en in 2004 'n Ph D (Grieks) aan dieselfde universiteit. Na sy militêre diens as kapelaan in Walvisbaai aanvaar hy 'n beroep na die NG-gemeente Walvisbaai. Hy begin sy akademiese loopbaan op 1 April 1990 as senior lektor in die Departement Nuwe Testament en word in 1999 tot medeprofessor en in 2003 tot professor bevorder.

Sy navorsingspesialiteit is die Johannesevangelie en die Brief aan die Galasiërs. Hy is tesourier van die Nuwe Testamentiese Werksgemeenskap van Suid-Afrika, lid van die Society of Biblical Literature en die Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, redakteur van Acta Theologica en assistent-redakteur van Neotestamentica. Hy het reeds 34 artikels in geakkrediteerde tydskrifte gepubliseer, asook drie populêr-wetenskaplike boeke en talle bydraes in populêr-wetenskaplike boeke. Hy het twee akademiese boeke in die buiteland gepubliseer - onderskeidelik in Nederland en in die VSA. Later vanjaar verskyn 'n derde akademiese boek in Duitsland. Hy is ook een van die vertalers van die Afrikaanse Bybel vir Dowes.

Prof Janse Tolmie verwerf die grade B Sc, B Sc (Hons) en M Sc (Cum Laude) in Rekenaarwetenskap aan die UV.

Hy is vanaf 1989 betrokke by die UV en was ook ’n dosent aan die Militêre Akademie in Saldanhabaai in 1990/91 en het klas gegee by DePaul Universiteit in Chicago in 2002.

In 1992 is hy vir ses maande gesekondeer na ’n patologiese firma, Van Drimmelen en Vennote, in Johannesburg vir die ontwikkeling van kennisgebaseerde sagteware. Met hierdie projek word hy een van slegs ’n handjievol navorsers in die wêreld wat daarin kon slaag om ’n mediese kundigheidstelsel te ontwikkel wat werklik gebruik word.

Hy verwerf sy Ph D in 1994 en in 1994/95 doen hy navorsing aan die Besigheidskool van Carleton Universiteit in Ottawa, Kanada. Hy word in 1997 bevorder tot mede-professor en in 2003 tot volprofessor. Vanaf 2003 tree hy op as departementele voorsitter van die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika.

Hy het meer as 30 publikasies al die lig laat sien, insluitend verskeie internasionale kongresbydraes en artikels in geakkrediteerde joernale. Hy was ook vir 2 siklusse geëvalueer by die NRF. Sy portfolio sluit in die ontwikkeling van sagteware of prototipes vir groot maatskappye soos Van Drimmelen en Vennote en Bayer Diagnostics (VSA). Sy privaatbesigheid fokus op die ontwikkeling van nismarksagteware vir tersiêre instellings. Die sagteware word tans gebruik deur afdelings aan verskeie universiteite in Suid-Afrika.

Die geleentheid vind om 19:00 in die CR Swart-ouditorium op die kampus plaas.

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Tel: (051) 401-2584
Sel: 083 645 2454
E-pos: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
 

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