VICE-CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH DURING THE LAUNCH CEREMONY OF THE LUBAN WORKSHOP AT MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY ON 14TH DEC. 2019
Salutations
- Our Chief guest, Hon. Joe Mucheru, the Cabinet Secretary for Information, ICT and Communication
- Mr. Bai Haili, the Deputy Director, Tianjin Education Commission
- CEC, Environment Machakos County,Madam Mutie
- Deputy Governor, Machakos County, Eng. Francis Maliti,
- Mr. Zhao Xiyuan, His Excellency Minister-Consellor who is also representing the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya,
- The Chairman, Machakos University Council, Prof. Gideon Hanjari
- Chairman, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Dr. Reuben Mutiso
- CEO, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Eng. John Tanui,
- Deputy Director of Hebei District, Mr. Yang Junchao
- The Principal, Tianjin City Vocational College, Prof. Li Yan
- Deputy Manager, Huawei Technologies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I warmly welcome you to Machakos University and thank you all for finding time out of your busy schedule to be with us. I extend my warm greeting to you all as we witness the Launch and unveiling Ceremony of Second Luban Workshop in Africa, here in our University. We are honoured by your presence and please do feel at home. I wish to very sincerely thank the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Joe Muchemi for gracing this ceremony. I wish to acknowledge other guests who are present but may not be able to address this forum, just to stand and wave:
- Chairman, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Dr. Reuben Mutiso
- CEO, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Eng. John Tanui
- County Executive Committee Members, in Charge of Education Hon. Lazrus Kivuva
- County Executive Committee Member in charge of Environment, Hon. Naomi Muties
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The historic event that we are witnessing today has been a long journey of building mutual partnership, use of resources and time that culminated into the signing of Letter of Intent on 14th October, 2019 and now the signing of the MoU today. The two institutions, Machakos University and Tianjin City Vocational College have come together for a common goal: offer quality educational and learning experiences necessary for 21st Century and beyond. Given that ICT is now the backbone of any development agenda, the Construction of Luban Workshop here at Machakos University is quite timely and there would have been no better time than now. I am pleased to mention that already six staff from Machakos University have attended a ten days’ course at Tianjin City Vocational College in China, in readiness to start off the programme and I am therefore confident that we are ready to drive and scale this partnership to greater heights.
Distinguished Guests,
It is pleasing to note that through the Luban Workshop, the Country will have a chance to experience world class cloud computing courses that will shape both thought and practice in the world of ICT. The workshop will further expedite interaction through world class video conferencing facilities as well as stimulate original research in the field of ICT and related human engagement. We have with us today, a chance to make solid contributions to the wellbeing of mankind.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;
I wish to thank the Kenyan and Chinese Governments for granting approvals to our partnerships and for supporting the construction of Luban Workshop at Machakos University, whose Launch Ceremony we are witnessing today. I thank the University Council of Machakos University for creating an enabling environment from which we continue to harness our potential. I thank the leadership of Tianjin City Vocational College and Management of Machakos University for unrelenting support. We look forward to greater cooperation as we begin this journey together.
Thank you.
Now is my pleasure to invite the Chairman, Machakos University Council to address this ceremony.