CCARDESA and RUFORUM pays a courtesy call on the Vice President office in Zambia

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in southern Africa (CCARDESA) and the Regional Universities Forum (RUFORUM) team paid a courtesy call on the acting President of Zambia Her Excellency Hon Inonge Wina on 25th September 2019. The primary purpose of the courtesy call was to present the RUFORUM charter to Zambia so that it is endorsed.

The vice president welcomed the delegation and noted the importance of universities to the agricultural sector and their critical role in finding solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. She stressed that Zambia had not been spared from the impact of climate change and was happy that universities had put research on climate change on its list of priorities. She was also concerned about the food insecurity in Africa and was hopeful that the work under the RUFORUM would contribute to transforming Africa into a breadbasket for the world.

The RUFORUM executive secretary, Professor Adipala Ekwamu, who was leading the delegation shared with the Vice president the purpose of RUFORUM.  He said that the RUFORUM’s mandate is to strengthen research, science and technology across African universities to reduce hunger and enhance food security in Africa. He also shared how RUFORUM is encouraging university exchange programmes where African students can enrol within universities in Africa to strengthen the human capital in the continent. He also appealed to the vice president to mainly allow students from Sierra Leone and Liberia to train in Zambian universities so that they will be ambassadors of Zambian universities in their countries.

He further appealed to the vice president to support the Minister of higher education Hon, Brian Mushimba as he helps the activities and mandate of the RUFORUM.

Furthermore, that, Hon. Mushimba was himself happy that Zambia was delighted to be part and parcel of the RUFORUM and noted that this is the first time that Zambia is hosting the RUFORUM event. He also informed the delegation that the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and most recently the Mulungushi University are members of the RUFORUM and was sure that Zambia would benefit from this initiative.

The Vice president was impressed with the presentation from the RUFORUM team and reiterated the commitment of the Zambian Government to ensuring research and development is supported. She was happy to let the Zambian students train elsewhere if they came back to develop their country after studies. She assured the delegation that her government would support the Minister of Higher Education to meet the mandate of the RUFORUM agenda and committed to hosting the RUFORUM Meeting of Ministers of Higher Education in 2026. She also authorised the Minister of Higher education to table the RUFORUM Charter in parliament so that it could be endorsed.

CCARDESA and the RUFORUM have been working together to promote agricultural research and development in higher institutions of learning.  There is a need for a paradigm shift and call for a change of mindset in African universities to conduct research that is aligned to country goals to ensure that national agricultural needs are met.  Among the delegation were vice-chancellors from universities in Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Uganda, South and North Sudan, the media and RUFORUM staff, among others.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in southern Africa (CCARDESA) and the Regional Universities Forum (RUFORUM) team paid a courtesy call on the acting President of Zambia Her Excellency Hon Inonge Wina on 25th September 2019. The primary purpose of the courtesy call was to present the RUFORUM charter to Zambia so that it is endorsed.

The vice president welcomed the delegation and noted the importance of universities to the agricultural sector and their critical role in finding solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. She stressed that Zambia had not been spared from the effects of climate change and was happy that universities had put research on climate change on its list of priorities. She was also concerned about the food insecurity in Africa and was hopeful that the work under the RUFORUM would contribute to transforming Africa into a breadbasket for the world.

The RUFORUM executive secretary, Professor Adipala Ekwamu, who was leading the delegation shared with the Vice president the purpose of RUFORUM.  He said that the RUFORUM’s mandate is to strengthen research, science and technology across African universities to reduce hunger and enhance food security in Africa. He also shared how RUFORUM is encouraging university exchange programmes where African students can enrol within universities in Africa to strengthen the human capital in the continent. He also appealed to the vice president to mainly allow students from Sierra Leone and Liberia to train in Zambian universities so that they will be ambassadors of Zambian universities in their countries.

He further appealed to the vice president to support the Minister of higher education Hon, Brian Mushimba as he helps the activities and mandate of the RUFORUM.

Furthermore, that, Hon. Mushimba was himself happy that Zambia was delighted to be part and parcel of the RUFORUM and noted that this is the first time that Zambia is hosting the RUFORUM event. He also informed the delegation that the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and most recently the Mulungushi University are members of the RUFORUM and was sure that Zambia would benefit from this initiative.

The Vice president was impressed with the presentation from the RUFORUM team and reiterated the commitment of the Zambian Government to ensuring research and development is supported. She was happy to let the Zambian students train elsewhere if they came back to develop their country after studies. She assured the delegation that her government would support the Minister of Higher Education to meet the mandate of the RUFORUM agenda and committed to hosting the RUFORUM Meeting of Ministers of Higher Education in 2026. She also authorised the Minister of Higher education to table the RUFORUM Charter in parliament so that it could be endorsed.

CCARDESA and the RUFORUM have been working together to promote agricultural research and development in higher institutions of learning.  There is a need for a paradigm shift and call for a change of mindset in African universities to conduct research that is aligned to country goals to ensure that national agricultural needs are met.  Among the delegation were vice-chancellors from universities in Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Uganda, South and North Sudan, the media and RUFORUM staff, among others.