Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Ryoichi Horie and the Cabinet Secretary of Education, Prof. George Magoha presided over the unveiling of the Agricultural Lab Building (ALB) annex building in JKUAT, June 7, 2021.

The three-story building was established with the basic objective of promoting and enhancing the region’s research capacity and training in agriculture, develop sustainable growth in human resources, and promote science, innovation, and research initiatives in agriculture.

While lauding the Japan, Kenya, and JKUAT collaboration, Amb. Horie said the building will be a key factor in producing competent researchers in the agricultural sector for the country’s future growth.

 “We have seen the value of agriculture in managing the pandemic. “The country’s economic decline due to COVID-19 pandemic will be strengthened and sustained by agricultural sector seeing that agriculture is the backbone of the country s development,” said the Ambassador.

Prof. George Magoha, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, gratefully acknowledged the significant pivotal role played by the Japan Government technical support through JICA since the 1980’s in supporting learning activities, thus producing competent skilled graduates in the country.

The construction of the building was supported by the Japanese Government through the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA), funded AFRICAN-ai-JAPAN Project in JKUAT. This idea was birthed in 2015, as one of the projects goals of development and infrastructure in the university.

The building is an extension of the existing laboratory building, in the college of agriculture.

JKUAT had embarked on the process of upgrading the faculty of Agriculture into the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This was informed by the changing demands in training agricultural sciences.

With the state of the art laboratories, the building will create more room and a conducive research environment where both students and faculty will be able to churn out novel research outputs and innovations.

The building has a contemporary boardroom and three modern offices for; the Principal College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dean School of Natural Resources and Animal Sciences; and the Colleges Administrator and Data Clerk.

Both the classrooms (4) and laboratories (3) have state of the art equipment that will cater for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

While thanking the Japan Government for their continued support and collaboration with JKUAT, Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Ngumi, pointed out, the achievement of the Africa-ai-Japan Project even as the Covid-19 Pandemic ravaged the world.

“Not only has the project build the new modern ALB building, but has also funded 37 long term and short term innovation research projects, supported 72 PAUSTI JKUAT 6th Cohort seed funding students, and also enhanced Wi-Fi productivity infrastructure in the university, which has enhanced blended learning activities,” said Prof. Ngumi.

The launch of the building was graced by JICA and Kenya Government officials, JKUAT Council Members and College of Agriculture and Natural resources representatives.

[/cm