WACREN successfully held its first Annual Conference and second Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 13–14 March 2014 in Lomé, Togo. These events were hosted at the Novela Star d’Avepozo Hotel and were preceded by a meeting of the WACREN Board of Directors on 12 March 2014. TogoRER, the local organising body, overcame several challenges to ensure the event’s success, demonstrating its commitment to the West and Central African community. Approximately 60 participants attended, including lecturers, researchers, decision-makers, Internet service providers, and ICT specialists from several African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia), as well as from Europe (France and Spain) and the United States. Representatives from continental and regional organisations participated, such as the African Development Bank, ECOWAS, UEMOA, and WACREN partners like DANTE, RENATER, IRD, and NSRC. UbuntuNet Alliance’s CEO sent a goodwill message. The conference’s central theme was “Implementing a State-of-the-Art Network Infrastructure for Education and Research.” Togo’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Octave Nicoué Broohm, presided over the opening ceremony. Other speakers included Professor Koffi Akpagana, Chairman of the TogoRER Board; Dr. Nii Quaynor, Chairman of the WACREN Board; Dr. Boubakar Barry, Managing Director of WACREN; and Cathrin Stöver, Head of International Relations at DANTE. Discussions during the AGM led to key resolutions, such as publicising all WACREN General Meetings and revising the membership structure to enhance participation. Membership categories were expanded to include NREN Members, Associate Members, Corporate Members, and Partner Members, with a “Premium” option for Associate and Corporate categories. The AGM also decided that minutes of Board Meetings and reports would be made public on the WACREN website. At the close of the conference, TogoRER received symbolic gifts in recognition of its successful hosting. The event culminated with a meeting between the WACREN and TogoRER Boards of Directors and the Minister of Higher Education and Research. During this meeting, participants expressed gratitude for the Minister’s support and discussed the next phase of the AfricaConnect project, which requires 20% co-funding from participating countries. The Togolese government was urged to support TogoRER in this effort. The conference concluded with remarks from Dr. Nii Quaynor, who commended the participants for their contributions to the event’s success. The next WACREN Annual Conference and AGM were scheduled for 11–13 March 2015. FacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppEmail