_{By Maureen Agena and Agaba Issa Mugabo}

RUFORUM, a vibrant organisation of 170 universities in 40 countries across Africa hosted by the Government of Uganda at Makerere University since 2004 is celebrating its 20^th anniversary on the margins of its second Triennial conference currently underway in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Regional Universities for Capacity building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) seeks to facilitate the creation of ‘Vibrant transformative universities catalysing sustainable inclusive agricultural development to feed and create prosperity for Africa’. The Second triennial conference which is hosted by the Government of Namibia and RUFORUM member Universities in Namibia, is taking place from 12-16 August, 2024 under the theme “Operationalising Higher Agricultural Education and Research Ecosystems for Innovation, Industrialisation, and Economic Development in Africa: A Call for Action.”

Represented by different universities spanning the globe, Vice Chancellors, Deans and Principals, University registrars, policy-makers, researchers, scientists and student have gathered in Namibia to discuss ways of transforming agriculture in Africa through innovative scientific research, educational and training approaches.

The Minister of Higher Education, training and innovation of the Republic of Namibia, Hon. Dr. Itah Kandjii Murangi on behalf of the President H.E. Nangolo Mbumba, officially opened the Second RUFORUM Triennial Conference on 12 August 2024.

The Minister who noted that the conference theme calls for immediate action to secure the posterity of our continent, warned against existing climate change and increased weather variability that is already with us and affecting agriculture, which in Namibia employs 70% of the population and is a provider of their livelihoods. She called upon the scientists to ensure that Africa is not just a consumer of science knowledge and products but a generator of solutions that will help humanity thrive on this planet. And to achieve that, she advised that Science, Technology and Innovation must be at the forefront of every initiative

While speaking on behalf of all visiting African Ministers of Higher Education at the official opening of the conference, Hon. Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo underscored the value of enhancing agriculture education, skills development and knowledge support, noting the urgent need for curriculum reform and skills development to combat graduate unemployment as industry increasingly indicates that graduates do not have the skills that they are looking for. To overcome the situation, he proposed that the quality of higher degree programmes and their relevance to Africa’s challenges must be addressed. Agricultural education, he noted, will be critical to enhance the quality of employment and ensure inclusive growth.

The Minister also highlighted the core value of Science, Technology and innovation as a formidable tool for achieving Agenda 2063, “the Africa We Want” of a people driven inclusive prosperity, peace and integration, and that quality education has been emphasized as a pre-requisite for economic and social development to advance Africa’s position in the global knowledge economy.

In Uganda, RUFORUM member universities include; Bishop Stuart University, Bugema University, Busitema University, Gulu University, Islamic University in Uganda, Kabale University, Kyambogo University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Makerere University, Muni University, Ndejje University, Soroti University, Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University and Uganda Technology and Management University. RUFORUM is a vibrant organization with a strategic MoU with the African Union Commission to implement priority area one of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024).

Since its establishment, RUFORUM has supported the training of over 2,909 students (2,053 MSc, 627 PhD, and 229 Bachelors Students) from all over Africa, in different African Universities as part of building Africa’s Capacity for Capacity Development and promoting pan-Africanism, of whom 98% work in their countries or region. These efforts, apart from Human Capital Development, have contributed to knowledge generation and community impact. Some of the products of RUFORUM supported research, such as two soybean varieties developed in Uganda are now being grown throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. RUFORUM has also targeted strengthening capacity of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Uganda, Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and Sudan among others.

RUFORUM has also mobilized over US$236 million for African Universities that is channeled through Uganda to the various countries for strengthening postgraduate education in Africa. For Uganda specifically, RUFORUM has contributed over US$50.5 million to Uganda through research, scholarships and institutional support to universities in Uganda. Most of the support went to Makerere University, and more recently to Gulu University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Uganda Martyr’s University.

The triennial also kick started the second phase of a Mastercard Foundation supported project on “Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth and development” (TAGDev 2.0), a program that seeks to strengthen universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to drive inclusive, equitable and climate resilient transformation of agriculture and agrifood systems through experiential learning, skilling and empowering of Africa’s young people.

In his presentation at the opening ceremony of the Triennial Conference, the Executive Secretary RUFORUM, Prof. Patrick Okori noted that TAGDev 2.0 has to-date, under the expanded work and other livelihood opportunities for young women and men result area, empowered beneficiaries to run profitable enterprises and create work opportunities for themselves and others. Furthermore, under the improved adaptive agricultural production and productivity of focus value chains in target countries, he reported that TAGDev 2.0 has enabled smallholder farmers to access and utilize climate adaptive technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs).

And thirdly, under the strengthened quality of higher agricultural education outcomes within the ecosystem result area, Prof. Okori shared that TAGDev 2.0 has improved coordination among actors in the delivery of transformative and inclusive training, research and innovation by universities and TVETs.

The first Triennial was successfully held in Cotonou, Benin in 2021. This Year’s theme is a response to the urgent needs for the African governments, development partners, private sector and citizenry to take action, to invest in higher education to underpin the continent’s urgent development needs in an inclusive and sustainable way.

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