Africa’s higher education group Regional Universities Forum (RUFORUM) for Capacity Building in Agriculture is in Monrovia seeking to expand its network across Liberian universities to collaborate and support human capital development.
The organization has expanded it’s network to 105 universities across Africa, and state – run University of Liberia (UL) joined the group in 2017.
A delegation of university leaders from other African countries are here in Monrovia for a symposium that seeks to make sure that the universities are working together to support the development agenda of the continent.
A symposium is being held under the theme: “Promoting Higher Education in Liberia,” in an effort to push for collaboration among universities here to support human capital development and to develop a new generation of scholars who love and believe in the African continent.
Opening the forum Wednesday, 24 April at the Boulevard Palace in Sinkor, the host, UL president and deputy chair Dr. Ophelia Weeks explains that the forum is an opportunity to engage other universities here to become a part of RUFORUM to interact with leaders of other universities across Africa.
According to Dr. Weeks, the forum is here to network, interact with heads of universities and government officials to talk about the need to work together to build capacity as a team.
She recalls that the RUFORUM came into existence since 2004, but UL joined it in 2017.
The UL president continues that RUFORUM seeks to build capacity in agriculture across Africa, and it has since developed into 105 universities across Africa over the years.
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According to Dr. Weeks, the meeting looks at issues that need to be addressed across universities in Africa and develop policies that hopefully, Liberia’s universities will implement.
Further, she laments that UL was established since 1862, but it is far way from where it should be considering the time it was established.
However she expresses optimism that some of the challenges facing the university can be overcomed by discussing, identifying and sharing information and working together in unity.
For his part, RUFORUM Chair and Vice Chancellor of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Prof. G.Y. Kanyama, PhD, expresses gratitude to Liberia and UL for the wormed reception given the delegation here.
He says the RUFORUM is here to capacitate this nation and the continent in the area of agriculture.
Also speaking, RUFORUM Executive Secretary Prof. Adipala Ekwamu expresses delight over the forum’s presence in Liberia which he says is about the promotion of networking across Africa.
Pro. Ekwamu asserts that the Forum seeks to make sure that the universities are working together to support the development agenda of the continent.
He adds that it seeks to collaborate to support human capital development and to develop a new generation of scholars who love and believe in the African continent.
Prof. Ekwamu concludes that the responsibility to development the African continent “lies in ourselves,” especially the new generation.By Winston W. Parley
