Reflections on the first pan‐african conference on biochemistry and molecular biology

Abstract

After a couple of years of consultations with leading biochemists/molecular biologists in Africa and from abroad (playing advisory roles), the First Pan-African Conference on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was finally held for five days on the beautiful grounds of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters at Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya from 2nd to 6th September, 1996. The official opening ceremony was presided over by the now deceased Kenyan Minister for Research, Technical Training and Technology, Hon Dr Zachary T Onyonka and was also addressed by the Deputy Director General of UNEP Professor Reuben Olembo, the Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Technology in Africa, Dr Paul Vitta, the Principal, College of Biological and Physical Sciences of the University of Nairobi Professor Frederick Onyango and the Secretary …