Benin becomes a new member of the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) and of the AfricaConnect2 project.Benin becomes a new member of the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) and of the AfricaConnect2 project.

On 1 February 2019, the memorandum of understanding for Benin’s membership of the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) was signed in the Conference Room of SÈMÈ CITY. The ceremony took place in the presence of Mr Boubakar BARRY, Chief Executive Officer of the West and Central African Research and Education Network, Mrs Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, and Mrs Marie-Odile ATTANASSO, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Several stakeholders from the digital, education and research sectors also attended the ceremony. The National Research and Education Network project reflects the Beninese Government’s determination to “Transform Benin into the platform for digital services to accelerate growth and social inclusion” by extending digital technology through education and training. It is also part of the global and regional drive to deploy very high-speed networks interconnecting research centres and universities, thereby enabling strong interaction between higher education stakeholders and stimulating research and innovation through increased digital collaboration. By joining the West and Central African Research and Education Network, Benin will be able to benefit from world-class network infrastructure, take part in collaboration between regional and international research and education organisations, and strengthen the capacity of its education network. This membership will mainly make it possible to interconnect Beninese universities and research centres and facilitate communication between researchers on the same site, while improving the student community’s access to high-speed internet. The Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, Mrs Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, expressed her delight at seeing Benin join an important community that will enable Beninese students, teachers and researchers to access international scientific and educational resources. For the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Marie-Odile ATTANASSO, this is a real revolution for Benin’s academic community, which will thus have better internet access and connectivity with the major research and education networks.