By working together, African universities can leverage joint resources, expertise and technology to provide sustainable solutions to African development challenges facing the continent.

Acting Vice Chancellor at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Prof. Bernard Ikua noted that African universities have resident knowledge that if well tapped, can turbocharge Africa’s socioeconomic transformation and livelihoods upgrading. Africa whose population is above 1.4 billion people, still has an estimated 450 million people living in absolute poverty.

Prof. Ikua was speaking on Monday, January 27, 2025 when he received a delegation from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANR), in Malawi. The delegation is in JKUAT on a benchmarking and collaboration exploration.

Prof. Ikua added that JKUAT has a long history of international collaborations; having been founded through a technical cooperation between the government of Kenya and government of Japan, back in 1978. He welcomed possible collaborations with LUANR, in the critical area of agriculture. He also called for students and staff exchanges between JKUAT and LUANR.

LUANR’s Director of Research and Outreach, Dr. Samson Katengeza who led the LUANR delegation to JKUAT said,  his university was leading government efforts to leverage agriculture based sectors and industries to power Malawi’s development, citing the government’s agricultural commercialization programme.

Dr. Katengeza added that by embracing innovative approaches such as impact zones in which regions are economically organized based on their relative endowments and strengths, universities can support achievement inclusive developments of their countries and beyond.

According to Katengeza, equally important, is the universities’ integration into the community as they jointly search for solutions to existing problems.

Dr. Katengeza and his delegation lauded remarkable progress made by JKUAT particularly in agricultural research which they noted, would make important learning points for LUANR. Some of the issues top on the visiting delegation’s agenda, include value addition and commercialization; industry partnerships, internationalization as well as academic and research programmes.

JKUAT’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research Production and Extension, Prof. Jackson Kwanza said, the university currently undertake applied research in key areas including engineering, technology, agriculture, health, and law. He welcomed the efforts to establish collaboration with LUANR, noting that JKUAT has established successful linkages with universities across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

On his part, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Robert Kinyua noted that JKUAT had already established good linkages with universities in Malawi, paving the way for collaboration with LUANR.