By Correspondent
Kenya and Gambia governments intend to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in education and research.
Speaking when Gambia Ambassador to Kenya Jainaba Jagne paid a courtesy call on, the Principal Secretary State Department for University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi said Kenya has broad areas in its education sector and is willing to expand international relations with other countries in Africa, Asia and Europe in order to explore areas of collaboration in research and higher education.
The PS said plans are on course for Kenya to host the National Innovation week later this year, adding that the exhibition will provide an opportunity for researchers from Kenya and other countries to showcase research and innovations which they have developed as well as support each other in finding solutions to common problems which affect African Nations through partnering in research.
“The National Research Fund (NRF) is allocated four percent of the government’s annual budget to support research and currently NRF is conducting research on cancer and Covid-19. We will, therefore, invite participants from other countries to attend the exhibition so that we work together to fight the common problems of poverty, disease and hunger which affect Africa” said the PS.
Amb. Nabukwesi also said the Covid-19 pandemic which had disrupted learning in institutions has enabled universities to strengthen their e-learning facilities by promoting virtual platforms, thus enabling students to benefit from continuous learning.
The PS also said that Kenyan universities are willing to engage sabbatical lecturers and have exchange programmes with a view of interacting with experts especially in the areas of health, Agriculture, housing and manufacturing sectors which fall under the government’s Big Four agenda.
Jagne on her part said institutions from Gambia are keen to come and benchmark in Kenya to find ways of improving their higher education institutions and research organisations.
She said Gambia is in the process of developing a research policy and they would like to learn from Kenya.
She further welcomed the proposal of strengthening relations between the two countries, adding that it would be an advantage in promoting trade between the two countries.
