Dr Mathuki suggests avenues through which universities can mobilise funds to benefit communities
Universities can, and indeed should, contribute more to the drive to reduce inequalities, says East African
Community (EAC) Secretary General, Dr Peter Mathuki. However, they can only do so by mobilising enough resources to deliver on their mandates of teaching, research and outreach, adds the EAC boss, the guest speaker at the 22nd Graduation Ceremony at Mount Kenya University (MKU).
More than 4,000 students will graduate during today’s function that takes place at the university’s main campus in Thika town. The graduation theme is: “Higher Education as a Factor for Reduced
Inequalities.” Dr. Mathuki challenges universities to deliberately promote entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of innovations by staff and students.
He says there are various avenues universities can use to mobilise funds. They can set up innovation and incubation hubs, entrepreneurship centres and foundations. “Universities should create awareness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and direct their activities towards the achievement of the SDGs by 2030,” says the EAC boss.
Dr Mathuki lauds MKU for serving as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for SDG No. 10 on Reduced Inequalities. He says: “MKU contributes towards ending inequalities through capacity building in health sciences, education, ICT, engineering and energy production, as well policies that seek to end gender and disability inequalities.”
