Juja, Kenya: On 30 November 2018, the Pan African University, Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) organized the graduation ceremony of its 4th batch of Master of Science and 2nd batch of PhD students at the Graduation Square of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Main Campus, Juja.
The ceremony was organized within the framework of the thirty second Congregation for the Award of Diplomas and Conferment of Degrees themed “Commercialization of research outputs and Innovations for Sustainable Development”.

The graduating class consisted of 5 PhD students and 46 MSc. Students all drawn from 18 African countries including Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The students crowned by PAUSTI have been exposed to practical industry conditions and relevant continental projects after following tailored training courses in the various areas of expertise taught in PAUSTI.

The ceremony which started at 8:00 a.m., was graced by the presence of august guests including AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Director for HRST Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo, The President of PAU Council, Prof. Pierre Dominique Nzinzi, Vice president of PAU Council, Prof. Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude, PAU Acting Rector, Prof. Kassa Belay, Officers of the JKUAT University including the Chairman of Council, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of JKUAT University, Deans of schools and Faculties and Directors, the Cabinet Secretary of Education, Directors of PAU institutes, administrative and religious authorities, students and guests.

During the ceremony a series of addresses were delivered. In her address, the AU Commissioner HRST started by congratulating the graduands and advocated for more strategic investments in education, science and technology “if Africa is to reap the benefits of research and innovation”. She further extended appreciation to all the stakeholders of the PAU initiative. To the graduating cohort that she baptized as “THE NEW BREED OF INNOVATORS!!!”, she made a strong exhortation in these terms “You are PAUSTI ambassadors to deliver Science, Technology and Innovation. Go, innovate and create and transform for the Africa we want. Dream big and keep the zeal of innovation alive!!! She concluded by charging them to be guiding lights in their respective professions and societies.

The Chairman of Council, Chancellor, Vice chancellor of JKUAT and Cabinet Secretary of Education also addressed the audience, while the messages of the President of PAU Council and PAU Acting Rector were transcribed in PAUSTI Graduation Booklet.

In essence, the President of PAU Council commended the management, staff and students of PAUSTI for organizing a second graduation ceremony in the 2018 calendar year. In this vein, he described PAUSTI as an institute “where knowledge is widely disseminated in the various fields of study, while wisdom, African wisdom, taught in and out of the University, is also transmitted as a precious heritage, carefully packaged in African core values” and said this institute made him proud.

He also commended the collaboration between JKUAT University and PAUSTI saying that it is “a laudable model of collaboration for the development of Africa’s Higher Education that we wish to witness everywhere else in Africa”. He concluded by calling on the private sector, well-intentioned organizations and funding bodies to hold the hands of graduands for them to have the opportunity to demonstrate their talent.

Prof. Kassa on his part, indicated that the graduands, are “up to the task” and urged them to always “undertake their duties with integrity, professionalism and diligence”. He also invited them to participate in the institutional building of PAU through avenues such as the Alumnus network. He ended by wishing the graduands that he referred to as “champions”, the very best.

The ceremony was also punctuated by musical animations by the choir of the JKUAT University which added prestige and colour to this ceremony, lifting their voices in songs. They sang the Kenyan National Anthem, the Anthem of the Pan African University and the AU Anthem.

The ceremony proceeded with the presentation of candidates for the award of diplomas and conferment of degrees. It ended at with a dinner offered by PAUSTI at Safari Park Hotel.

For further information please contact:
Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi
E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org

Further media inquiries should be directed to:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Juja, Kenya: On 30 November 2018, the Pan African University, Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) organized the graduation ceremony of its 4th batch of Master of Science and 2nd batch of PhD students at the Graduation Square of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Main Campus, Juja.
The ceremony was organized within the framework of the thirty second Congregation for the Award of Diplomas and Conferment of Degrees themed “Commercialization of research outputs and Innovations for Sustainable Development”.

The graduating class consisted of 5 PhD students and 46 MSc. Students all drawn from 18 African countries including Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The students crowned by PAUSTI have been exposed to practical industry conditions and relevant continental projects after following tailored training courses in the various areas of expertise taught in PAUSTI.

The ceremony which started at 8:00 a.m., was graced by the presence of august guests including AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Director for HRST Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo, The President of PAU Council, Prof. Pierre Dominique Nzinzi, Vice president of PAU Council, Prof. Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude, PAU Acting Rector, Prof. Kassa Belay, Officers of the JKUAT University including the Chairman of Council, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of JKUAT University, Deans of schools and Faculties and Directors, the Cabinet Secretary of Education, Directors of PAU institutes, administrative and religious authorities, students and guests.

During the ceremony a series of addresses were delivered. In her address, the AU Commissioner HRST started by congratulating the graduands and advocated for more strategic investments in education, science and technology “if Africa is to reap the benefits of research and innovation”. She further extended appreciation to all the stakeholders of the PAU initiative. To the graduating cohort that she baptized as “THE NEW BREED OF INNOVATORS!!!”, she made a strong exhortation in these terms “You are PAUSTI ambassadors to deliver Science, Technology and Innovation. Go, innovate and create and transform for the Africa we want. Dream big and keep the zeal of innovation alive!!! She concluded by charging them to be guiding lights in their respective professions and societies.

The Chairman of Council, Chancellor, Vice chancellor of JKUAT and Cabinet Secretary of Education also addressed the audience, while the messages of the President of PAU Council and PAU Acting Rector were transcribed in PAUSTI Graduation Booklet.

In essence, the President of PAU Council commended the management, staff and students of PAUSTI for organizing a second graduation ceremony in the 2018 calendar year. In this vein, he described PAUSTI as an institute “where knowledge is widely disseminated in the various fields of study, while wisdom, African wisdom, taught in and out of the University, is also transmitted as a precious heritage, carefully packaged in African core values” and said this institute made him proud.

He also commended the collaboration between JKUAT University and PAUSTI saying that it is “a laudable model of collaboration for the development of Africa’s Higher Education that we wish to witness everywhere else in Africa”. He concluded by calling on the private sector, well-intentioned organizations and funding bodies to hold the hands of graduands for them to have the opportunity to demonstrate their talent.

Prof. Kassa on his part, indicated that the graduands, are “up to the task” and urged them to always “undertake their duties with integrity, professionalism and diligence”. He also invited them to participate in the institutional building of PAU through avenues such as the Alumnus network. He ended by wishing the graduands that he referred to as “champions”, the very best.

The ceremony was also punctuated by musical animations by the choir of the JKUAT University which added prestige and colour to this ceremony, lifting their voices in songs. They sang the Kenyan National Anthem, the Anthem of the Pan African University and the AU Anthem.

The ceremony proceeded with the presentation of candidates for the award of diplomas and conferment of degrees. It ended at with a dinner offered by PAUSTI at Safari Park Hotel.

For further information please contact:
Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi
E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org

Further media inquiries should be directed to:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia