The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is gearing up to host its second Triennial Conference from August 12 to 16, 2024, in Windhoek, Namibia. This pivotal event, which marks RUFORUM's 20th anniversary, will centre on the theme “Operationalising Higher Agricultural Education and Research Ecosystems for Innovation, Industrialisation, and Economic Development in Africa: A Call for Action.”
The conference, a major milestone for the organization, is being organized in collaboration with the Government of Namibia and RUFORUM member universities within the country. It is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates, including high-level participants such as Ministers of Agriculture and Education, Permanent Secretaries, Vice Chancellors, university Principals and Deans, leaders of development institutions, private sector executives, farmers, emerging researchers, and young entrepreneurs, primarily from Namibia and other Southern African nations.
His Excellency Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia, will officially inaugurate the conference. The opening ceremony will also witness the launch of the second phase of the "Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development" (TAGDev 2.0) program. This initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in promoting inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient agricultural transformation through experiential learning and the empowerment of young Africans.
The conference will feature a series of exhibitions where universities, private sector representatives, and young entrepreneurs will showcase their innovations, products, and services. These exhibitions are expected to foster networking opportunities and facilitate partnerships at institutional, regional, and global levels. RUFORUM will also recognize outstanding model farmers from Namibia and young scientists from Southern Africa, underscoring the vital role of excellence in research and higher education for advancing Africa's agricultural sector.
Prof. Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of RUFORUM, highlighted the critical need for collective scientific efforts in overcoming Africa's agricultural challenges. "We must harness our collective knowledge as scientists to generate solutions that will underpin the growth of Africa. And for agriculture, this is crucial given the existential threats we face as a continent," Prof. Okori said in a recent statement.
Pre-conference activities will include training sessions for post-doctoral fellows and targeted skills enhancement workshops focusing on entrepreneurship, scientific data management, social media, and communication, ensuring that participants are well-prepared for a productive conference experience.
This upcoming Windhoek Triennial Conference builds on the success of the inaugural event held in Cotonou, Benin, in 2021. Interested participants are encouraged to register for the conference, which offers both physical and remote attendance options.
Article by Jed Mwangi
Photo/RUFORUM
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