General
Momar Nguer on why Total still believes in Africa
The Senior Vice President Africa/Middle East, Total Marketing & Services, Mr. Momar Nguer has called upon Governments on the African continent to create an enabling environment for more investments on the continent as a way of tapping into the enormous potential of the youth. The Vice President was speaking at a Public lecture in Makerere University on 13th Nov. 2013, on the topic, ‘Why I believe in Africa.’
In a meeting with the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. J.Y.T. Mugisha prior to the Public Lecture, Mr. Nguer accompanied by Mr. Imrane Barry, Managing Director, Total Uganda Limited and other Total officials expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity to share with students his vast experience. Welcoming Mr. Nguer to Makerere, Prof. Mugisha thanked Total for choosing the University to host the lecture, noting that it was a good exposure opportunity for our students. Commenting on the courses already offered by the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Mugisha noted
“Our Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies offers courses at both Undergraduate and Graduate Levels in partnership with the University of Bergen,” he said. “We signed a three year Memorandum of Understanding with Total E&P Uganda in May 2012 to promote education and development through which our students have already secured study opportunities,” added Prof. Mugisha.
In his address to Staff, Graduate and Undergraduate students who attended the Public Lecture, Mr. Momar Nguer outlined Africa’s continued economic growth, A burgeoning Middle Class and An improved economic environment resulting from Good Governance as three main reasons why he believes in Africa. According to Nguer, Africa is the continent that has it all. “This continent has a healthy growth rate, which economists say is characterized by a decrease in the dependency ratio. Investment in Africa is key as the Government cannot accommodate all the youngsters coming from Universities, who are over 40,000 annually in most countries,” observed Mr. Nguer.
“Government has to create an enabling environment for companies to operate. If you take the example of mobile payments, what we are doing in Africa is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Africa is taking the lead and this is a good demonstration of the potential of business in Africa if the environment continues to allow. We cannot be the ones lagging behind all the time. We should not allow this,” he asserted, further adding “We need to set the pace in some domains. The rest of the world has not seen us yet.”
Nguer revealed that Total Uganda will during the course of 2014 roll out a Young Entrepreneur Initiative to facilitate the creation of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to help Graduates create their own businesses, as is done in South East Asia and the United States. “We need to give hope to our people. It is not about leaving it to Governments alone. As Total Uganda, we intend to launch an initiative on young 
entrepreneurship,” he explained. He called upon Government to prioritize agriculture as a backbone for Africa. “Each of us should think of things that benefit the entire continent. Why subsidize fuel and not fertilizers?” he wondered.
Commenting about the potential of oil in Uganda, Vice President Nguer asserted that Uganda currently enjoys a coveted position and needs to take full advantage of it. “Uganda is lucky to be the first country in the region to be producing oil. She can take the lead and be a reference point as the country with experts on oil for the region. Right now Uganda may not have the expertise but will certainly do so in the next 5 – 10 years as more citizens get grounded in the industry. That is what Uganda should be striving for,” he said.
Mr. Nguer also reiterated Total’s commitment to exploitation of alternative sources of energy. “Total has acquired SunPower on of the biggest Solar Companies and won the contract to build a 70MW solar plant in Chile. We also launched the Awango Solar Lamp which provides up to 6 hours of lighting for rural areas and although our target was 300,000 units by 2015, we have already surpassed it and our new target is 1million lamps.”
He reinforced Totals’ commitment to partnering with Makerere University through their graduate management training programme that has seen up to forty five fresh graduates train at Total Uganda. In his parting remarks, he counseled the congregation to “Think beyond yourself. Think about your community, country and continent. In that way you will build a lasting legacy,” he concluded.
Article by Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
-
General2 weeks agoGovernment Sponsorship Undergraduate Admission Lists 2025/26
-
General1 week agoApplications for Admission to Undergraduate Programmes 2025/26 AY
-
General3 days agoMakerere Alumnus Named 2025–2026 Schwarzman Scholar
-
Research1 week agoARUA Early-Career Research Fellowships 2025
-
General2 days agoAdmission Lists for Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship for 2025/2026 AY