Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 14 July 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat granted audience on 14 July 2017, to thirteen-member high level delegation from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) led by its Executive Secretary, Prof Adipala Ekwamu.

The meeting took place in the presence of the Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST) and the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the AUC.

In his address, the Chairperson his gratitude for the opportunity to exchange with African scholars and professors on important issues of capacity building in Agriculture, Science and Technology and underscored the fact that his message is addressed to the entire African scientific community. He emphasized the need for Africa to invest in research, in this case in the agricultural sector in order to achieve food nutrition and security. He highlighted the commitment of the African leaders to invest in youth development including training skills development and job creation. He reiterated that Africa is in a better position to harness the available technological development to fast track its own development unlike other regions in the world. As a prerequisite to achieving the African renaissance in a pan-Africanism context, key issues need to be addressed including: women access to land, the green economy, investment in research, modernization and mechanization of African agriculture through access and development of technology, to make it more attractive to African youth. Recalling the MOU between the AUC and RUFORUM, he suggested that the document be revised with the view of taking into account the recent issues of concern particularly in the areas of research on AU Agenda 2063. The Chairperson also alluded to the disconnect between the AU decisions and the actions taken towards their implementation and reiterated that organization such as RUFORUM have the right to call upon the African Union on these important continental issues.

In his intervention, the Executive Secretary of RUFORUM, Prof Adipala Ekwamu indicated that his delegation wishes to congratulate the chairperson for the confidence bestowed upon him by the Heads of state and offer RUFORUM as a platform for capacity building in Agriculture, Science and Technology towards the implementation of Agenda 2063. He highlighted the achievement of RUFORUM and called for expediting the implementation of the decision of Heads of State and Government on the Committee of 10 Championing Education, Science and Technology. He further stressed that within the implementation of the MOU between RUFORUM and the AUC, RUFORUM mobilized universities within its network to internalize STISA 2024 and integrate it in their research agenda.

The two parties further exchanged on issues on the transformation of African agriculture and implementation of Agenda 2063; the critical role of University in research as it gathers the large bulk of the African PhD; the mobility of professors and teachers particularly for Agricultural Universities which are now more and more located in rural areas; the need to put in place frameworks for training people in Africa for retention and avoid the brain drain, and bring African research closer to resolving African problems; the role of RUFORUM in the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, whose business plan is available for action; and also providing funding for our research in order to allow us set the research agenda itself.

The two parties agreed that the issues raised if not already part of research topics in the African universities and research institution should be considered for research activity in the benefit of the continent.

The RUFORUM, was created in 2004 by vice-chancellors of African Universities as an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the mandate to oversee graduate training in agriculture. Today, it is a consortium of 66 African universities operating within 26 countries across the continent. The secretariat is hosted by Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. RUFORUM signed a 5 year MOU with the African Union Commission to support the implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa, 2024 (STISA 2024), the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), the Comprehensive African agriculture Development Program (CAADP), and the Malabo declaration and to further strengthen its collaboration with the African Union Commission and contribute its part to advance the implementation of Agenda 2063.

For more information, please contact:
 Dr. Beatrice Njenga, Head, Education Division AUC njengab@africa-union.org

Media Contact:
 Esther Azaa Tankou, Head, Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC yamboue@africa-union.org

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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