About COMSAT

Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an international body of 21 developing countries from across three continents including: Asia, Latin America, and Africa, as its members. Its activities aim at reducing the ever-growing gap between the developed and developing world through useful researches in and useful application of science and technology. Nigeria is a member of this international scientific body with the National Mathematical Center (NMC), as its focal point and Centre of Excellence in Nigeria. COMSATS has its secretariat in Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan is currently running a three-year term as the Chairman of COMSATS. This post is rotated among member nations.

PRELUDE TO THE COMSATS MEETINGS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
In its 11th annual Coordinating Council Meeting held in China, in year 2008, Nigeria won the hosting right. It was scheduled to hold in April, 2009. Consequently in January, 2009 a Local Organising Committee (LOC) was constituted to organise the hosting of this international scientific events in conjunction with the COMSATS Secreatriat in Pakistan. The Chairman of the LOC was the Director General of the NMC, Prof. Sam O. Ale, mni, OFR.
As required by the COMSATS Secretariat, NMC had to provide accommodation for both the meetings and the Participants, feed the Participants and put in place logistics for the local run and sight-seeing. Abuja Sheraton Hotel was adjudged as suitable both for the accommodation and feeding during the meetings considering the nature and the caliber of the Participants expected.
This international scientific event attracted top Researchers from various COMSATS Centers of Excellence and heads of focal points which included three Deputy Ministers (Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) from the following developing countries: Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria (host nation), Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
The COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad was also present for the meetings and was represented by its Rector, Dr. S.M Junaid Zaidi. Other member countries who could not make good their attendance had since intimated the COMSATS secretariat, Pakistan the reasons for their inevitable absence at the meetings.

OPENING
The NMC successfully hosted the 12th annual Coordinating Council and 1st Consultative Committee meetings of the COMSATS on 27 – 29, April 2009. The short but impressive joint inauguration opening ceremony had in attendance, The Honourable Minister for Education, Dr. Sam. Omiyi Egwu, who delivered the inaugural speech in his capacity as the Special Guest.
The Chief Guest, The Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan B. Zaku was inevitably absent but was ably represented by the Director General of the Raw Material Research and Development Council, Prof. Onwuali at the occasion who also read the Minister’s message of good will.
As the Chief host,The Director General of the NMC, Prof. Sam O. Ale, mni, OFR. made the opening remarks.
The introductory remarks were made by the Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, the Executive Director, COMSATS.
China’s message of support.was delivered by a high-cadre diplomat from Chinese embassy in Nigeria.
Ambassadors/Representatives of the member nations as well as the members of scientific communities in Nigeria were among the several dignitaries that witnessed the joint inaugural opening ceremony.
A welcome dinner held at Abuja Sheraton Hotel in honour of the Participants was jointly sponsored by the NMC and the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan B. Zaku.
Click to view photogallery

ACTIVITIES
This international scientific event featured such activities as:

• Presentation of Country statements on science and technology development in the member states by various member country’s representative.
• Presentation of current research activities by the various COMSATS Centres of excellence by distinguished Researchers as well as the CIIT.
• Adoption of various provisional agendas and exhaustive discussion of the same.
• Resolutions of the Coordinating Council Members on the out-going of the former (Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan) and the in-coming of the new (Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi) Executive Director.
• Post meetings sight-seeing visits to the NMC, Sheda, Abuja as well as the Craft Village within the Federal Capital Central District by the Participants.

BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE MEETINGS
The COMSATS Meeting had impacted on the NMC and Nigeria in the following ways:

1. The COMSATS secretariat, in its letter of appreciation, decided to write off the financial implication for the hosting of these meetings by way of spreading the same over the coming years as Nigeria’s annual dues to COMSATS.
2. Some COMSATS Books and other publications were donated to NMC Mathematical Sciences library.
3. Nigeria was given seven tuition-free admission slots into various Master degree programmes in the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad for the 2009/2010 academic year.
4. The Consultative Committee meeting successfully held in Nigeria was the first one during the last 15 years since the inception of COMSATS in 1994, this has placed Nigeria at an enviable position within this 21- nation international scientific body.

The Proceedings of the event which consists of speeches, country statements, working papers and presentations in audio and written form, digital photographs are already in the archives of our Mathematical Science Library.
The members of the LOC thank the NMC Management for the opportunity to serve.