The 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) has been officially opened in Gaborone, Botswana, with a call to Africans to champion homegrown innovation as a driver of transformation in higher education, research, and development across the continent.
The AGM, held under the theme, “Transforming Higher Education to Strengthen Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem,” brought together university leaders, researchers, policymakers, industry players, and development partners from across Africa and the global scientific community.
Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe
Opening the workshop, Botswana’s Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe, noted that Africa’s development challenges could only be sustainably addressed through continental collaboration.
“Our challenges—climate change, food insecurity, youth unemployment—are shared. They demand shared, African-led solutions. This AGM provides the platform to build partnerships that will outlive borders,” he noted.
In a keynote address the Executive Secretary of RUFORUM, Prof. Patrick Okori, urged African universities to transition from traditional teaching models to innovation-powered institutions capable of shaping Africa’s future.
“Africa cannot transform without research-intensive universities that produce solutions, not just graduates. This AGM reminds us that transformation begins when Africans champion their own innovations,” Prof. Okori said.
UCC Takes Active Role at the AGM
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is prominently represented by a team led by the Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto. Other members at the AGM are the Provost, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Prof. Rofela Combey, immediate past Provost of CANS, Prof. Moses Jojo Eghan, Coordinator of TAGDev 2.0 UCC, Prof. Festus Annor-Frempong, representatives from TAGDev 2.0, Associate Programme Officer, TAGDev 2.0, Dr. Zikiru Shaibu, partner institutions and some staff and students of UCC.
UCC Delegation
Representatives from the partner institutions were Prof. Terry Ansah, University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr. Kwadwo Gyasi Santo, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Ms. Abigail Yvette Agbeteti, Adidome Farm Institute and Mr. Theophilus Kwame Soku, Asuansi Farm Institute.
Strategic Sub-Themes of the AGM
The 21st AGM is structured around six critical sub-themes: Strengthening Higher Education’s Role in Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem, Climate Change, Food Systems Transformation, and Environmental Sustainability, Digital Transformation, Technological Innovation and Future Skills, Youth Engagement, Employability, Agripreneurship and Leadership Development, Inclusive Partnerships for Research, Development and Economic Growth, Scaling Centres of Excellence and Strengthening Regional Research Networks
These focus areas are guiding scientific presentations, policy debates, and the formulation of actionable recommendations to support Africa’s development priorities.