Seven East African Countries, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan including Burundi are in Bujumbura her Capital from December 5th to 15th 2023, showcasing with their traders and innovators in the 23rd East Africa Exhibition commonly known as Jua-Kali, a common market held annually on rotational basis of the member’s states in strengthening common regional trade.
Uganda hosted the 22nd edition at Kololo, Kampala after Tanzania, and now is Burundi’s turn, and South Sudan is expected to host the 24th edition in 2024 in Juba.
The Market has a day during the exhibition dedicated to a country and such days would have guests from all the member states gather to send greetings and make a commitment to continued cooperation and it would prioritize that country’s acts and performances in totality.
On Uganda Day which was held on December, 13th, Prof.Openjuru, George Ladaah the Gulu University Vice Chancellor who started sending his University for Jua-kali in 2021 in Mwanza Tanzania joined the Ugandan team with a calabash in his hand singing and dancing to a Northern Uganda tune ‘Yoo Leng’ by Odong Romeo, a song which has captured the world, meaning the ‘path is clear for passage’.
To many on-lookers, the Vice-Chancellor had come with his University Secretary,Obol David Otori and the University Bursar, Nyeko John to support his University at the exhibition and Uganda but beyond that, Prof.Openjuru was also celebrating the public voting on the African Leadership Magazine in the United Kingdom for the Best African Educationalist of the year which had seen him far among his other colleague in the same category that included Matsie Angelina Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa, Prof. Olufemi A. Peters, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Media, Arts and Communication, Ghana.
He held his calabash high, singing and demonstrating the strength of Gulu University in Community Engagement. It is not a surprise that Gulu University since 2021 has been the only University in East Africa that started going to the Jua-Kali to mix with the local traders and other Innovators.
Prof.Openjuru was invited to talk about Education and encourage Academic Institutions in the East African block to embrace Jua Kali, something he did, when he was provided the opportunity to address the East African Member states.
“It’s high time East African Leaders also ensure Academic Institutions start embracing the Jua Kali because, without the Academia, there would be no innovation”. He told the high-level delegation from Bujumbura on Uganda day.
Audio File One. Prof Openjuru On Innovation-Eng
The Elephant Spoke with Prof.Openjuru, George Ladaah from Bujumbura, Burundi, on December 13th but on the 14th Midnight voting had ended. The candidates are just waiting for the official announcement from the organizers.
Audio File Two. Prof. Openjuru on leading the Poll -Eng
Prof.Openjuru is even not aware of who nominated him but he believes that his immense role in preaching Universities’ Community Engagement and working towards a stable Education System in Uganda as the Chairperson of the Uganda Vice-Chancellor’s Forum has paid off.
Audio File Three. Prof.Openjuru on roles-Eng
African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year 2023:
Upon official announcement from the organizers, it means Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah who polled a record 81.57 percent to claim the African Educationalist of the Year, would share the same stage in February 2024 in Ethiopia during the award ceremony with His Excellency William Ruto, the President of Kenya, His Excellency, George Weah of Gambia, His Excellency Jakaya Kiwete, the Former President of Tanzania who won the Categories of, African of the Year, African Political leader of the year, and African Peace& Security leader of the year respectively among other distinct winners.
Criteria for Announcing Winners:
“Based on the results of the online poll, the winners of the African Leaders Magazine (ALM) Persons of the Year Awards for the year 2023 will be announced and invited to a formal presentation of the awards and other instruments of the honor during the ALM Persons of the Year Awards Ceremony 2024, which is scheduled to hold on February 22 – 23, 2024 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a country that occupies a strategic position as the headquarters of the African Union (AU). The event will be held in partnership with the Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC), with the theme- Building Resilient African Economies through Leadership and Integration”. The African Leadership Magazine Founder and Chairman Dr. Ken Giami, wrote to the Candidates.
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