Speech by Prof. Isaac O. Kibwage Vice-Chancellor Egerton University Delivered on Friday, 29th July 2022 During The 45th Graduation Ceremony of Egerton University

The Chancellor of Egerton University, Dr Narendra Raval (Guru)

The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Prof. George Magoha

The Principal Secretary, State Dept. for University Education & Research, Amb. Simon Nabukwesi

Governor of Nakuru County, H.E. Lee Kinyanjui

Chancellors of other Universities,

Chairman of Egerton University Council, Amb., Hukka Wario

Council Members, Egerton University,

Chairpersons of Councils of other Universities,

Vice-Chancellors of other Universities

Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Egerton University,

Members of the University Senate,

Senior Government Officials,

Members of Staff, Graduating Class, Parents and Guardians

Those following us on various digital media platforms

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr Chancellor Sir,

On behalf of the University Management Board, University Senate, Staff and Students, I welcome you all to the 45^th congregation of Egerton University graduation ceremony. The theme of this graduation is “A University Education for Development”

45^th Graduation Ceremony

Mr Chancellor, Sir, today we are graduating two thousand three hundred and twenty-two (2,322) graduands who have successfully fulfilled academic programme requirements for conferment of various degrees and award of diplomas.

These are 17 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees, 67 Masters Degrees, 2,148 Bachelor Degrees and 90 Diplomas.

I tender my, congratulations to you all. After this day, we look forward to you joining the Egerton University Alumni Association. It is important that you stay connected and in touch with your Alma Mater.

I wish also to thank other stakeholders of the University namely, the Egerton University Alumni Association (EUAA), generous donors such as the World Bank and the Mastercard Foundation, EU, staff, fellow students and the Egerton Community. Their various contributions made it possible to have this occasion.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

For the 2021/2022 academic year, we had an increase in first-years student enrolment of four thousand and thirty nice (4,039) students to various undergraduate degree programmes through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS). This year (2022-2023) KUCCPS has placed four thousand four hundred and twenty-seven (4,427)) students at Egerton University.

At the beginning of this year, we had an aggressive marketing strategy to market our programmes to prospective students, their parents/guardians, and their respective schools.

The Office of the Registrar (Academic Affairs), the Directorates of Marketing and Resource Mobilization, and that of International Linkages & Career Services have been engaging in online campaigns and participating in countrywide career fairs to increase student enrolment. We have seen positive impacts of these efforts, and we intend to continue to attract students to choose our programmes during the next academic calendar.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

As you are aware, we started this academic year on a challenging note. From November 2021 to the 4^th of March in 2022. An industrial dispute disrupted teaching and learning. It also negatively affected our image as one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the country. I am happy to report that despite the hardships entailed, the academic staff agreed to return to work, completed the semester two (2) weeks ago, and are ready to start the new academic year in August.

Despite such setbacks, we performed well in the Webometric Rankings of World Universities. We were the third Best University in the country. This clearly demonstrates that our academic, Research and Outreach programmes have a national and global impact and our tagline of “Transforming Lives through Quality Education” is embedded in all that we do.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

Egerton University, together with Maseno University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, on 28^th February 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding with Kisii University to establish the East African Centre of Excellence in Health Education and Training (CEHET). The establishment of CEHET at Kisii University is part of an agreement by the Kenya UK Health Alliance (KUKHA), a cooperation of the United Kingdom and Kenyan institutions (universities, research institutions and teaching hospitals) collaborating on health with the blessings of our Government.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

In the spirit of enhancing our relationship with our County leadership, I paid a courtesy call on the Nakuru County Governor, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui to discuss pertinent issues key among them the restoration of the Mau Ecosystem, rehabilitation of Njoro River, upgrading roads within Main Campus in Njoro, the elevation of Lord Egerton Castle to a historical site and partnering with hospitals in Nakuru County in health care delivery, research, innovations, farmer training through extension and outreach.

The University has embarked on a vigorous activity of planting trees along its boundaries to create an eco-friendly belt and we have planted over 6000 trees around within the boundaries of the Main Campus. In addition, during this year’s World Environment Week, we planted over six thousand (6,000) tree seedlings led by the Faculty of Environment and Resources Development and the Directorate of Marketing and Resource Mobilization.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

As part of revamping our income-generating units (IGUs), we opened the EU Minimart located at the Main Campus Entrance in Njoro on 13^th April 2022. The Minimart is stocked with various University products and is serving staff, students and the community. We are also revamping other units to IGUs in order to diversify and increase our income which will supplement the limited funding that we receive from the Exchequer.

As a strategy to improve on the welfare of our students, we initiated the refurbishing of the student hostels to address challenges in space availability and sanitation. These hostels will be affordable to all students and I encourage our students to reside within the Main Campus in order to guarantee their safety and welfare.

Mr Chancellor Sir, we completed the Science Complex last financial year and the facility is currently housing various departments, computer laboratories, Research labs, lecture and conference halls.

We are now focusing on renovating Kilimo Hall, Education Complex and maintenance of the various teaching and research facilities including Pavements and roads.

By the end of this calendar year 2022, Nakuru City Campus College, the Faculty of Commerce and the Faculty of Health will move to our Kokeb Grounds and this will save the University up to thirty (30) million shillings in Annual Rent. Construction of the new facilities is underway.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

Through the Division of Research & Extension, we hosted the 14^th Biennial International Research Conference on 23^rd March 2022. The conference attracted one thousand and fifty-three (1,053) attendees drawn from local and international universities, research institutions, national and county governments, local and international NGOs, and private sector organizations. Participants from 30 countries interacted with the conference website. The top 10 countries represented were Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, the United States, South Africa, Rwanda, South Sudan and the United Kingdom. Ninety-eight (98) papers were presented in various areas in Agri-food Systems; Health Systems, Science and Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management; Social-Economics and Governance among others.

In the 2021/2022 financial year, the Division of Research and Extension received forty-two (42) new projects, consultancies and fellowships valued at Ksh. 597 million. Furthermore, we have several other ongoing international, regional and national collaborative research programmes with funding of over Ksh. 1.77 billion that support researchers and postgraduate training. These are:

Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev) funded by the MasterCard Foundation through RUFORUM and the Principal Investigator is Professor Nancy Mungai. TAGDev provides scholarships to students from across Africa, focusing on training competent and highly skilled African youth and nurturing graduates with relevant skills.
Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) funded by the World Bank and the Principal Investigator is Professor George Owuor. CESAAM recently opened its research and teaching complex and is supporting several regional MSc and PhD students of whom some are graduating today.
USAID Empowered Youth Program (CoELIB Project) is funded by USAID-Kenya and the Principal Investigator is Professor Alexander Kahi.
COELIB (Centre of Excellence in Livestock Innovation and Business) is funded by the European Union and the Principal Investigator is Professor Alexander Kahi.
Strengthening agriprenuership and community engagement training in East, West and North Africa (AGRIENGAGE) funded by Erasmus + Programme of the European Union and the Principal Investigator is Professor Patience Mshenga.

Others are Egerton University – BOKU University Limnology programs, the European Union funded programs, USAID, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UK-AID, and World Bank Funded-Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program (KCSAP) among others.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

We have worked closely with Kenya National Innovation Authority (KENIA) in promoting Innovations and Entrepreneurial culture among staff and students with aim of building an Entrepreneurial University. We are also exploring possibilities of collaboration with Konza Technopolis in creating synergies that create opportunities for our students and staff. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives through the State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research will be supporting Egerton University’s Agro Science Park to become investor ready. This is after the Cabinet of Kenya approved the Policy on Large Commercialization Initiatives (LCI) in line with Flagship 4 of the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019-2029), which seeks to implement large-scale agricultural commercialization by making available underutilized land held by the State.

On this note, it is important that I mention other flagship projects namely the Dryland Research Training & Ecotourism Centre (DRTEC) at Chemeron and the Kenyatta Campus which supports outreach activities to farmers.

Mr Chancellor,

As part of administrative and financial reforms aimed at cost-saving, we are continuously implementing prudent financial and procurement measures that reduce wastage. We are also improving service delivery across all university systems that are aimed at graduating our students on time.

Mr Chancellor Sir,

We have witnessed the retirement of several senior members of the Academic staff who have reached the mandatory retirement age.

Finally, Mr Chancellor Sir,

I am confident that we have equipped the graduands with the relevant skills, knowledge and expertise that will make them change-makers.

Graduands, make the world a better place. Thank you and God bless you.

Tweets of the Vice Chancellor Egerton University, Professor Isaac O. Kibwage during the 45^th Egerton University Graduation held at the main campus, Njoro, Kenya on Friday 29^th July 2022

#45thEgertonGraduation

Mr Chancellor Sir, the theme of this year’s graduation is A University Education for Development