Africa-Press – Tanzania. FORMER Vice President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal has challenged the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) to come up with relevant research that will contribute to the country’s development.
The former VP made the remarks here at the weekend, while gracing the 7th graduation ceremony of the public institution.
Dr Bilal, who is also the NM-AIST Chancellor, noted that the society was grappling with a host of challenges, urging the institution to apply its knowledge and innovation to help the government address such challenges.
“This institution is famed for its contribution to the national development in the area of science and technology, nonetheless much is expected from you in engaging in serious and meaningful research that will complement government’s efforts,” observed Dr Bilal.
The former VP equally assured the NM-AIST that the government would continue to support the institution realize its vision of becoming a worldclass institution of higher learning dedicated to the pursuit and promotion of excellence in Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI), and their applications for economic growth and sustainable development in Africa.
In his quick rejoinder, NM-AIST Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Luoga assured the former VP that the graduands would hit the ground running as they confronted societal problems with a view of addressing them, through research and innovation.
The Vice Chancellor also acknowledged the government’s 1.5bn/- worth of support which will be channeled towards the construction of a women’s dormitory at its Tengeru Campus. Prof Luoga however appealed to the government’s support in addressing the dire shortage of staff at the institution.
A total of 78 students were conferred with Masters and PhD degrees at a colorful ceremony held at the university’s Tengeru Campus.
The NM-AIST is one in a network of Pan-African Institutions of Science and Technology located across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA These institutions, which are the proud brainchild of the late Nelson Mandela, envision training and developing the next generation of African scientists and engineers with a view to impacting profoundly on the continent’s development through the application of Science, Engineering and Technology and Innovation (SETI).
