UoN hosts 46th UNCTAD Regional Training Course
The University of Nairobi in partnership with UNCTAD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting an 11-day UNCTAD Regional Course Training. This is the 46th of its kind. The university hosted the previous training in 2019.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (DVCAA), Prof Julius Ogeng’o, expressed his gratitude to UNCTAD for choosing the university to host the regional trainings from 2019.
“I am aware that the University has a longstanding collaboration with UNCTAD, with training, research, publication of papers, and international conferences. Indeed, the collaboration has benefited our staff and students and boosted the excellence of our Department of Economics in the region.”
In his oration, he went ahead to say, “the continent of Africa interacts with the rest of the world mainly through international trade. However, Africa contributes to only 2 percent of the world trade. Perhaps it is time for a more intensive intervention, with development of the capacity of our economics, trade and finance professional, so that they can evolve more robust mechanisms for handling both domestic and international economics issues.”
“We are looking to professionals who can contribute to Africa’s development and development policies, understand the role of international trade and finance in a globalised world, and more importantly, professionals who can develop and implement strategic policies dealing with key economic issues in the international economic agenda,” he concluded.
“Africa lags behind in building human capacity to enhance and improve skills to ensure that we grow together as a country and as a continent at large,” said Mr. Okoje Oliver, Director Department of International Trade, who represented the Cabinet Secretary, State Department for Trade and Enterprise Development. “As the African Continental Free Trade Area, we should ensure that we create a buffer for weaker economies by formulating and executing proper policies.’’
The Head of the Knowledge Development Branch, UNCTAD, Ms Geneviève Feraud gave her opening address as well. She thanked the University of Nairobi, she said, “I would like to thank the University of Nairobi for their patience and for working closely with UNCTAD to ensure the feasibility of the course taking place. This course will provide opportunities and I am certain that this course will be successful and fruitful in your professional development. I wish you all the best of luck as you represent your respective countries from Africa and in your future professional endeavours.”
Prof. Anthony Wambugu, Chairman Department of Economics and Development Studies “We have become the hub of trade trainings and its analysis thereof and as the University of Nairobi we are proud to make the collaboration with the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD),” remarked Prof. Wambugu. He further added that trade is a toolbox for tackling inequality and poverty in the continent and that the course will be able to bring this to the participants’ attention.
The training which runs from April 11 to 22, 2022 is being coordinated by Prof Tabitha Kiriti- Ng’ang’a, the university’s UNCTAD coordinator.
