MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR SIMON NABUKWESI, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, STATE
DEPARTMENT FOR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
I am indeed delighted to participate in this Virtual International Conference.
I thank the Vice Chancellor for the invite. This Conference is coming at a
time when the world is going through health, economic and social turmoil
due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic which is affecting the entire world.
Such challenges come with lessons to be learned. One such lesson being the
reassertion that the world is more networked than ever before. Challenges facing
one side of the world affect the entire world and need concerted effort of each
and every one of us in the whole world to find possible lasting solutions. The
Covid-19 pandemic has made us learn that no nation or individual has monopoly
of knowledge, and the world is always a work-in-progress. It has also made us
learn the important roles our health professionals play in our lives.
Fighting Covid-19 requires a collaborative scientific and interdisciplinary
approach, ranging from efforts in developing a vaccine against it, curative and
prevention measures, to social distancing and protective equipment. In these, social, biological and physical
sciences are all applied. The Ministry of Education is at the forefront in developing capacity in Science, Technology and Innovation through provision of research funds which are competitively awarded to researchers.
However, such funding is never enough and to mitigate this, the Ministry has provided an enabling environment
for Universities to seek additional funding from the global community to bridge the funding gap and ensure they
are relevant in so far as education and research are concerned.
I take this opportunity to thank the World Bank for the support they have given in the establishment of three
(3) Africa Centers of Excellence (ACEs) in Kenya, i.e.
i. Africa Centre of Excellence in SustainableAgriculture andAgribusiness Management (CESAAM) at Egerton
University,
ii. Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textiles and Renewable Energy (ACEII-PTRE) at Moi
University and,
iii. Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Use of Insects as Foods and Feeds (INSEFOODS) at Jaramogi
Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
It is from this support that Moi University is able to offer postgraduate teaching and research in Phytochemicals,
Textile and Renewable Energy.
The theme of the Conference: “Advancing Science, Technology and Innovation for Industrial Growth”
and the thematic areas of Phytochemistry, Progressive Textiles, Renewable Energy and Transformative Industrialization are relevant in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a universal call of action to
end poverty, protect the planet and ensure people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030. A better world
requires an interdisciplinary approach by including social sciences, of which this Conference embraces, having
incorporated Sino-Africa Culture Exchange (SACE), making it a three-in-one International Conference with
high level academic discourse and cross-cutting disciplines. As I conclude, I wish to state that post Covid-19
will require us to build new bridges in scientific cooperation and re-double our efforts in Science, Technology
and Innovation with determination and distinction. Universities are expected to lead in this aspect.
It is now my honour to officially declare the Conference open and wish all the participants effective
presentations and productive discussions. Thank you.
Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi
Principal Secretary, State Department for University Education and Research, Ministry of Education.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES
This is the start of a conference with an impressive program on an important
topic. It is a great honour for me to represent International Association of Universities, (IAU). The Covid 19 pandemic is still ongoing and with an uncertain
development. We are all facing the short term and trying to foresee the longterm consequences of the pandemic, far beyond the health issues. Covid 19 has
brought awareness of the interconnection between the SDGs and that global
perspectives on a sustainable future, reaching Agenda 2030, are crucial and
necessary.
UN has clearly stated that higher education, through research and education,
plays a key role in Agenda 2030 towards the realization of the SDGs. The
IAU has actively promoted and advocated for Higher Education for Sustainable
Development (HESD), since the early 90s. IAU was created under the auspices
of UNESCO in 1950 and is a membership-based organization serving the global
xx
DEPARTMENT FOR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
I am indeed delighted to participate in this Virtual International Conference.
I thank the Vice Chancellor for the invite. This Conference is coming at a
time when the world is going through health, economic and social turmoil
due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic which is affecting the entire world.
Such challenges come with lessons to be learned. One such lesson being the
reassertion that the world is more networked than ever before. Challenges facing
one side of the world affect the entire world and need concerted effort of each
and every one of us in the whole world to find possible lasting solutions. The
Covid-19 pandemic has made us learn that no nation or individual has monopoly
of knowledge, and the world is always a work-in-progress. It has also made us
learn the important roles our health professionals play in our lives.
Fighting Covid-19 requires a collaborative scientific and interdisciplinary
approach, ranging from efforts in developing a vaccine against it, curative and
prevention measures, to social distancing and protective equipment. In these, social, biological and physical
sciences are all applied. The Ministry of Education is at the forefront in developing capacity in Science, Technology and Innovation through provision of research funds which are competitively awarded to researchers.
However, such funding is never enough and to mitigate this, the Ministry has provided an enabling environment
for Universities to seek additional funding from the global community to bridge the funding gap and ensure they
are relevant in so far as education and research are concerned.
I take this opportunity to thank the World Bank for the support they have given in the establishment of three
(3) Africa Centers of Excellence (ACEs) in Kenya, i.e.
i. Africa Centre of Excellence in SustainableAgriculture andAgribusiness Management (CESAAM) at Egerton
University,
ii. Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textiles and Renewable Energy (ACEII-PTRE) at Moi
University and,
iii. Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Use of Insects as Foods and Feeds (INSEFOODS) at Jaramogi
Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
It is from this support that Moi University is able to offer postgraduate teaching and research in Phytochemicals,
Textile and Renewable Energy.
The theme of the Conference: “Advancing Science, Technology and Innovation for Industrial Growth”
and the thematic areas of Phytochemistry, Progressive Textiles, Renewable Energy and Transformative Industrialization are relevant in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a universal call of action to
end poverty, protect the planet and ensure people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030. A better world
requires an interdisciplinary approach by including social sciences, of which this Conference embraces, having
incorporated Sino-Africa Culture Exchange (SACE), making it a three-in-one International Conference with
high level academic discourse and cross-cutting disciplines. As I conclude, I wish to state that post Covid-19
will require us to build new bridges in scientific cooperation and re-double our efforts in Science, Technology
and Innovation with determination and distinction. Universities are expected to lead in this aspect.
It is now my honour to officially declare the Conference open and wish all the participants effective
presentations and productive discussions. Thank you.
Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi
Principal Secretary, State Department for University Education and Research, Ministry of Education.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES
This is the start of a conference with an impressive program on an important
topic. It is a great honour for me to represent International Association of Universities, (IAU). The Covid 19 pandemic is still ongoing and with an uncertain
development. We are all facing the short term and trying to foresee the longterm consequences of the pandemic, far beyond the health issues. Covid 19 has
brought awareness of the interconnection between the SDGs and that global
perspectives on a sustainable future, reaching Agenda 2030, are crucial and
necessary.
UN has clearly stated that higher education, through research and education,
plays a key role in Agenda 2030 towards the realization of the SDGs. The
IAU has actively promoted and advocated for Higher Education for Sustainable
Development (HESD), since the early 90s. IAU was created under the auspices
of UNESCO in 1950 and is a membership-based organization serving the global
xx