Welcome remarks by Prof. Isaac O. Kibwage during the 14th Biennial International Virtual Conference

The Keynote speakers:

The Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Innovation Agency, Dr Tonny K. Omwansa

Vice Chancellor & CEO, KCA University, Nairobi, Prof. Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki,

Members of Egerton University Staff

Guest Speakers

Distinguished Scientists

Ladies and Gentlemen

All Protocols Observed

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Egerton University and the 14^th Biennial International Conference. I am honoured to address our distinguished guests who have joined us virtually as I officially open the Conference. I wish to convey my sincere gratitude, and I welcome you all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are living during turbulent times. First, we had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and its adverse effects on the social and economic fabric of the country. The pandemic created an unprecedented crisis in the country. Poverty rates and inequalities as a result of job losses more than doubled. Most importantly, Kenya's economy took a hard hit, which has affected funding to public universities. Secondly, we are now experiencing the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that is negatively affecting our economy. Thirdly, we are grappling with the negative impact of climate change. Agriculture in Kenya is primarily rain-fed, and the effects are negatively affecting our crop potential and livestock yield. With all these happening, we have to be innovative in our approach to dealing with Kenya's social and economic transformation as underpinned in this year's theme "Research and Innovations for Resilience in a Changing Environment."

Underlying this theme is the acknowledgement that Science, Technology and Innovations are major drivers and enablers of social and economic transformation. Therefore, applying knowledge and innovation is necessary to attain sustainable economic growth and competitiveness under the prevailing circumstances.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

About Egerton University

Egerton University is one of the oldest institutions in Kenya. We currently have over 20,000 students under different programmes spread across ten (10) faculties and fifty-one (51) academic departments.

The University also hosts the "Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa's Growth and Development" (TAGDEV) Program. Students supported through TAGDev are from fourteen (14) African countries, and many have impacted rural communities.

The World Bank African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) at Egerton University is part of 24 Centres of Excellence supported by the World Bank to establish regional hubs of excellence in FIVE priority areas: industry, health, agriculture, applied statistics and agriculture. The overall interest of ACE-II is to provide institutional capacity for quality postgraduate training and to forge partnerships among other activities. CESAAM is supporting 240 postgraduate students.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

14^th Biennial International Conference

At this year's Conference, participants will have an opportunity to address this broad theme under seven sub-themes namely: Transformative Agri-food Systems; Health Systems, Science and Technology; Innovations in Climate Change and Natural Resource Management; Transformative Education for Social-Economic Adaptability; Resilience and Ruptures in Governance and Geopolitics in Africa; Literature, History and Culture; Entrepreneurship, Business and Trade. This Conference brings participants from academia, research institutions and other industry experts in various fields to a common forum. The objectives of the Conference are to provide a platform for participants to share their research results, outputs and products; and to deliberate and exchange innovative, cutting-edge development ideas, concepts and actions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, at Egerton University, we recognize and value creativity and innovations while simultaneously assisting in translating them into profitably exploitable products, processes, and services for the benefit of humanity, the University and its staff and students and to our cherished partners. In light of this, the papers we will present and the discussions we will have will assist us in our contributions, as researchers and academicians, to the ever-changing environment. I hope that we continue hosting such conferences even as we build upon our collaborations in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I declare the 14^th Biennial International Conference open. Thank you, and God bless you all.