The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) extends appreciation to the RUFORUM Board and Vice Chancellors , RUFORUM Partners, University Management, Students and all our stakeholders in the Higher Agricultural and Tertiary Education sector from the 40 RUFORUM Member Countries across Africa. We are also grateful to all other organizations, including our National Governments, for their efforts in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and working towards a quick return to normalcy and recovery in growth of Africa’s economy. Because of your collective efforts, universities and other higher education sectors have been able to resume full operations, for which we congratulate all management, staff, and students.

In a special way, on behalf of the RUFORUM Network, I would like to thank the Government of Zimbabwe and the RUFORUM Member Universities in Zimbabwe for hosting the 18^th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting and Conference (AGM) of 2022 that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe. The theme of the AGM was, “Strengthening Africa’s agri-food systems in the post COVID-19 era – opportunities and challenges.”

The conference attracted over 1,000 participants including higher education and agriculture leaders, researchers, policy makers, development partners, private sector actors, students and farmers, among others. The mutually reinforcing meetings included: (a) A Vice Chancellors Forum for lesson sharing across member universities; (b) Presented 129 scientific papers; (c) Recognized leading personalities in higher education in Africa; (d) Recognized young innovators and; (e) Showcased exhibitions from African Universities and their partners. Additionally, a ministerial meeting on higher education that generated policy recommendations for growing Africa’s higher education sector was held. The AGM business meeting was held, and it heralded a change in leadership at the Secretariat, with Professor Adipala Ekwamu, RUFORUM’s founding Executive Secretary, passing the baton to the new Executive Secretary. The RUFORUM Board, and indeed the entire network and higher education community in Africa and globally, thank Professor Adipala Ekwamu, for his outstanding contribution to Human Capital Development in Africa, promoting University- Community engagement, University-Policy-Industry linkages, as well as mobilising funding for strengthening Higher Education, Agriculture, Science, Technology and Innovation Development in Africa.

As we move forward in 2023, RUFORUM would like to bring to your attention a key principle of solidarity, that has kept our network together in the past and is critical for our collective future. We have found solutions to our problems by working together, such as the need to build each other’s human resources. Through the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Program, championed by the Vice Chancellors, we are building capacity for Africa by Africa. To date, 252 GTAs (65 female, 187 male) from 55 sending universities have been placed in 44 host universities across the RUFORUM network. These GTAs are from 55 member universities of the RUFORUM network. I would like to congratulate the Vice Chancellors of participating Universities, as well as their management and staff, on taking this courageous “leap of solidarity.” Let us continue to support one another in research, teaching and learning as well as development delivery.

We are pleased to announce that the Government of Cameroon together with the RUFORUM Member universities in the country will host the 19^th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Yaoundé. The conference will take place in the last quarter of 2023, and more details will be communicated soon. Several pre-conference events will be held virtually, allowing us to engage with stakeholders at different levels. Kindly visit the RUFORUM and conference website for updates.

The five-year RUFORUM Operation Plan is currently under development and will be launched later this year. RUFORUM envisions vibrant, transformative universities catalysing sustainable, inclusive agricultural development to feed and create prosperity for Africa. To achieve this vision, we need a collective effort to educate people in agriculture and intensify gender inclusion. The secretariat will seek your wisdom and guidance to help us develop a viable and impactful operation plan. Finally, This newsletter contains highlights of happenings in our network that you all have made and continue to make grow. Thank you and God bless you all.

Professor Patrick Okori
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

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