This Wednesday morning, 11th February 2015, the IGAD Executive Secretary, Amb (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi.
Furthermore, the university has since August 2013 been offering a degree program in dry-land economics and agro-ecosystem management through the IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS) based in Somaliland. Following the success of this program, the IGAD Executive Secretary request the Vice Chancellor to consider offering post-graduate degree courses and establishing a distance learning facility for the under-graduates and civil servants in the war-torn country.
“This will go a long way to build capacities of the lecturers at the school and the civil servants emerging from conflict situations”, stated Amb Mahboub, pointing out that the school was also receiving similar support from Makerere and Mekelle Universities in Uganda and Ethiopia respectively.
Prof Mbithi recalled being part of the team that conceived the partnership and assured IGAD of continued commitment to collaborate and support the school. He further promised to build on what others before him had started.
“It is part of our mandate to tackle the many challenges that Africa and the region faces including poverty and food insecurity”, reiterated the Vice Chancellor, announcing that the university had just been ranked seventh in Africa and therefore more than ready to partner with other institutions. He added that the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies provides courses relevant to Somalia and other countries in the region emerging from conflict situations.
In conclusion, it was agreed that work plans would immediately be drawn, setting out clear objectives of the partnership and fast tracking the establishment of the distance learning facility.
Amb Mahboub and Prof Mbithi also exchanged gifts and tokens of appreciation.
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