Professor Aryeetey was given the honor and privilege of addressing the Senate, made up of all Deans of Schools and Faculties and other senior academics of the University. He addressed the Senate on the new EU-AU Innovation Agenda, the ARUA Strategic Plan, and the proposed decentralization of ARUA, among other topics. Members of the Senate were generally very positive about the role that ARUA was playing in transforming African universities and encouraged the Secretary-General to continue on the agreed path. They pledged their support for the strategic plan.

Receiving the ARUA Secretary-General earlier at his office, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, reiterated ARUA’s role in enhancing research at African Universities.  Prof. Nawangwe, who is also the ARUA Board Chair, said he was delighted to host Prof. Aryeetey.  

The visit also afforded Professor Aryeetey the opportunity to meet with the Carnegie Project Data Team to discuss outstanding matters. He later met with the Director of the ARUA Centre of Excellence for Notions of Identity, Dr. Sarah Ssali, and her team. Researchers from Makerere University lead the ARUA CoE on Notions of Identity, while others are active in four other CoEs, including the ARUA CoE for Non-communicable Diseases. 

The Secretary-General discussed the EU-AU Innovation Agenda with the Chair of the Committee advising the Vice-Chancellor on the Initiative, Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, and her colleagues. He had similar discussions with the leadership of Makerere’s African Centre of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO-ACE) and the Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC).

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey with Carnegie Data Staff

Professor Ernest Aryeetey with staff of MAPRONANO