Besides being a professor at the Masinde Muliro University Science and Technology (MMUST), Lucas Nandi Shamala insatiable appetite to pump knowledge into the heads of learners has pushed him to have an extra learning institution within his home turf to extend his academic prowess to the young generation.
His love for education, he states, changes lives and livelihoods within communities and him being a living testimony, has decided to give back to the society by uplifting the education of downtrodden and struggling learners willing to go all the way up the academic ladder.
With him emulating the education bigwigs and crusaders in the earlier years overseas known as Risper and Gloria, the good Professor has made true his words and started the Ubuntu Justice Institute (UJI), an umbrella organization encompassing education training and uplifting the livelihoods of learners, young entrepreneurs and women as a whole within the Malava Sub-county and even beyond for self-sustainability.
Through the UJI, Prof has started Risper Gloria academy that reflects and honours the two American women Risper and Gloria who were academic champions of yesteryears. They championed for the education of the oppressed and vulnerable learners targeting learners with no means where they trained, educated and empowered them with skills so that they can be self-sustainable.
Speaking at the Salvation Army Matioli Secondary where he is a board member while awarding the 2023 best KCSE performers, the Prof announced that already learning for the Form One to Form Four students was under way with more expected to join during August and December holidays.
“We have qualifies teachers on board who give tuition ranging from writing skills in English, solving Mathematics equations, social skills, Sciences, communication skills, how to study to answering questions.
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We have applied frequent testing, quick marking and thorough revision guided by a qualified teacher who guides the learners to mark their tests,” he says.
He reminisces his hey days when he was pursuing education and how it has put him in the limelight.
“You will never believe what pushed me to start this programme. I was a day student some years back at Kivaywa Boys and I struggled to cope with my education challenges being a day scholar and after my high school I joined Kenyatta University where I trained as a teacher before landing a scholarship and relocated to America for 18 years where I attained my Masters and PhD and became a professor.
I have both American and African families and when I moved back home, I realized that my children were struggling with education especially at form one and two levels. I employed a private tutor for them, lest did I know that the whole scenario facing the learners within the community who started coming over to also be assisted and that is how I ended up with this community academy that has now grown and attracting learners from other areas.”
He says due to the demand and thirst of the learners to have and understand education, they have decided to incorporate primary and junior secondary students so as to reach out to many children as possible who are eager to make it in life.
“Our institute is up and running and soon we will be officially launching it alongside the academy and it is my call to the parents of Malava to embrace the programme for the betterment of their children,” he said.
By Andanje Wakhungu
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