Egerton University continues to play a pivotal role in transforming agricultural education across Africa. Recently, the University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage was appointed as the first Chair of the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) Implementation Council. This significant appointment underscores the institution's leadership in advancing education and creating opportunities for young Africans.
Prof. Nancy Mungai pitches Egerton University’s TAGDev 2.0 during the TAGDev Partnership Council Immersion (gallery walk) in Windhoek, Namibia, on August 11, 2024. The program has so far provided scholarships to 188 students and positively impacted over 5,000 more through hands-on learning opportunities.
The TAGDev 2.0 Implementation Council comprises of 12 African universities namely the Africa University (Zimbabwe), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (Morocco), the University of Bamenda (Cameroon), the University of the Free State (South Africa), the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), the University of Eldoret (Kenya), Malawi University of Science and Technology, Uganda Martyrs University, the National University of Agriculture (Benin), and the University of Port-Harcourt (Nigeria), Gulu University (Uganda) and Egerton University (Kenya).
The Council’s Chair is tasked with guiding these universities in steering the TAGDev 2.0 agenda, which focuses on transformative education, job creation for young people, and enhancing educational systems to meet the needs of African agriculture.
Egerton University’s team, led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage (center), after the successful pitching of the TAGDev 2.0 program at the 2nd RUFORUM Triennial Conference in Windhoek, Namibia.
Building on the success of TAGDev 1.0, launched in 2016, the new phase of the initiative is set to extend its impact even further. TAGDev 1.0, piloted at Egerton University and Gulu University has empowered numerous young people through experiential learning, skill development, and leadership training. In Egerton, over 188 students have received full or partial scholarships, with an additional 5,000 benefiting from farm attachments, training programs, and internships.
TAGDev 2.0 was officially launched in Namibia during the 2nd RUFORUM Triennial Conference on August 12, 2024. With Egerton University at the forefront, the initiative aims to deepen its impact across the continent, ensuring that African agricultural universities remain key players in sustainable development and youth empowerment.
By Agnes Mwangi
