TANZANIAN SCHOLAR UPBEAT ON SCIENCE, INNOVATION IN EA

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

A Tanzanian scholar has pledged to drive science, technology and innovations in the East African universities.

This will enable the region to keep pace with technological advancements and nurture the young scientists.

"The world is changing rapidly and unsurprisingly, the new higher education landscape has to change", said Prof Yunus Mgaya, a marine biologist who has served in various capacities.

He said after being installed the new Chancellor of Kampala International University (KIU) that time for the  universities to rise to the challenge.

They should be focused as emerging technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence "continue to expand the global economy and revolutionize various sectors".

The potential of new technologies like blockchain and the artificial intelligence chatbot - ChatGPT - is undeniably obvious, he pointed out.

Such technologies must therefore be examined further to determine the best way to apply them for socio-economic development.

Prof. Mgaya, who retired recently as director general of the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), replaces  Prof Mahmood Mamdani as KIU Chancellor.

KIU is a private, not-for-profit institution based in Uganda but with campuses in various countries, including Tanzania. It was established in 2001.

During his installation early this week, Prof Mgaya said he was gratified because this was the first time a Tanzanian national was unveiled as a Chancellor of a Ugandan university.

"This is a testimony to the excellent relations between our two nations. It is my solemn duty to cultivate that relationship further, for our mutual benefit", he said.

He pledged to make sure that the university (KIU) keeps pace with the latest innovations in science and technology so as to nurture young scientists "who make Africa proud".

Before his retirement as NIMR boss late last year, Prof  Mgaya (66) had served in various capacities in the local academic and research institutions.

He was a member of the then Faculty of Science of the University of Dar es Salaam and rose through the ranks to become the deputy Vice Chancellor from 2006 to 2014.

He served as the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Commission for Universities from December 2014 to May 2016 before being appointed NIMR chief by the late President John Pombe Magufuli.

He has vast experience in marine resources and has served as a member of as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (2004-2008).

He was also the chair of the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (2009-2016) and Ministerial Advisory Board of the Drilling and Dam Construction Agency from 2014 to date.

Prof Mgaya was in 2016 appointed by the Vice President’s Office to serve as the Champion of the Northern Mozambique Channel Initiative and has served in the position to date.

The management of KIU said that the Tanzanian scholar's vast experience will help change the academic centre in terms of innovation and research.