Chairman of Council, Represented by Dr. Joyce Ngure, The University Management, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Senate, CECM, Education and Vocational Training, Bungoma County, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Faculty, other Members of Staff, Chairman, Students Council, the Press, Invited Guests, Students; Ladies and Gentlemen.
I Welcome you to this celebration. It is one of the many memorable ceremonies we have had.
Three key words thread through our vision, mission and objectives: These are technology and innovation arched under the key one, research. These constitute the DNA that characterizes KIBU. Research leads to discovery of new knowledge that facilitates new technology which in turn leads to innovations that make life easier, cheaper and better. Take case of Super markets.
Research has many benefits: It helps address societal challenges, helps boost economy, leads to numerous commercial startup ventures i.e. M-pesa, helps generate jobs, builds stronger communities, informs policy and helps in high skilled staff capacity building and development.
But research is not cheap. Requires capital to setup, competent human resource to write proposals, equipment, laboratories and time. All these need colossal amount of money. That is why we are celebrating. A team of nine members burnt their midnight oil to develop a proposal that won 64.6 million for Infrastructure for Kibabii University Information Communication and Technology Hub (KITCH).
This Hub will facilitate setting up of an ultra-modern equipped computing training hub of its own kind in the region and Sub-Sahara Africa comprising:
- A Data Centre for high end Computing;
- Mobile Computing laboratory;
- Digital Computing Forensics laboratory;
- Networking laboratory;
- Digital learning – video conferencing Centre; and
- An Incubation hub.
Through KITCH, the University will provide state of the art equipment and produce high skilled computing manpower that will go a long way in capacity building and development towards realising, the “Big Four” Agenda, Vision 2030 and the Africa Agenda 2063.
It is for this matter that we emphasize need to produce many doctorate scholars. This is the only way to enhance scholarship and research.
May I join those who have come ahead of me in congratulating the Team of Nine. You have thrust KIBU into the limelight of academia and scholarship.
Thank you a great deal and God bless you.
