A delegation from Michigan State University today paid a courtesy visit to Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage to discuss and explore collaboration partnership on agricultural extension and technical support.
The Visit led by a delegation from MSU; Paul Elam and Kendra Elam aimed at fostering practical partnership on agriculture and community outreach projects that will benefit students, farmers and pastoral communities in ASAL regions. This community outreach project will be piloted in Laikipa County.
The delegation was received by Prof. Bernard Aduda-DVC Academic, Research and Extension on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, who emphasized the importance of such collaboration where Egerton will give technical support and help in community engagement.
Prof. Aduda thanked the team for choosing Egerton on this partnership adding that the Laikipia project will be impactful to the ASAL communities which will see the Egerton University involvement in humantarian work.
He said this project will impact positively the lives of the vulnerable communities living in arid and semi-arid regions. The DVC told both Institutions to prepare a MOU to fast track the project inception for the benefit of the community. He told the Michigan team to understand fully the challenges of such areas since they are prone to conflicts on Water and Grazing, livestock theft, human-wildlife conflicts that tend to stall many humantarian assisted projects.
The DVC asked the teams to also incorporate and involve peace sectors in the implementation of this project for sustainability purposes. Prof. Nzula Kitaka, Director Marketing and Resource Mobilization praised the initiative and thanked Michigan State University for making Egerton their choice on this good gesture. She said Egerton will assist the good partnership that will be multi-disciplinary in implementation. Porf. George Owuor- Director Research and Extension added that Egerton University has a strong expertise on Agriculture, Water, engineering and agricultural extension services spanning for decades of academic excellence. He termed the project as a good and strategic private partnership with a public University.
Paul Elam and Kendra Elam of Michigan University said Egerton will be working with Michigan Public Health Institute(MPHI) and the Peace Ministry. Their work will be on project planning and Grant application assistance to the communities identified as beneficiaries. Also present were; Prof. Agnes Oywaya-Lecturer and Coordinator Career Services at Egerton University and Dr. Miriam Kyule- Chair of Department, Agricultural Education and Extension, who is University contact person for the project. Dr Miriam thanked the University Administration for giving Lecturers the latitude to go out and look for opportunities and partners on behalf of the University. <JE
