Until not long ago, mathematics was commonly regarded by the general public as a reclusive activity, pursued relentlessly and obsessively by a small number of individuals within the cloisters of universities. Mathematicians seemed to be detached from and unperturbed by the “lively” activities of their counterparts in other disciplines. 

In recent years, the emergence of knowledge-based economies has been accompanied by the ascendancy of mathematics as a fundamental part of general learning. The world is witnessing an increasing mathematization of science and engineering, with impacts on an ever broadening spectrum of research, beyond the physical and information sciences, including the bio-, geo- and environmental sciences, as well as the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Fundamental research in the mathematical sciences has emerged as the fountain head for all these disciplines, as it underpins and enable advances, both in theory and applications, in these fields.

Without mathematical training, no country is able to harness the full power of scientific research and technological tools to solve the daunting catalogue of internal and trans-border health, energy, development and quality-of-life challenges confronting our globalized society. Such growing recognition has resulted in efforts towards an African Mathematical Institutes Network (AMI-Net ) as part of NEPAD's  prioritising of science, technology and innovation for African development.