His Excellency, the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, officially opened the first commercial technology research facility in Africa at an inauguration ceremony held at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on 8thNovember 2013.
Delivering his speech at the opening ceremony President Uhuru Kenyatta said the establishment of this research laboratory underpins the government’s commitment to innovation ecosystems that are already available in Kenya. “Using innovation to drive homegrown solutions, Kenya continues to lead the continent in ICT. My government is proud that Kenya, and indeed Africa, will benefit from the presence of one of the most advanced research facilities, with some of the world’s most talented people, using some of the most powerful technologies to develop solutions for some of Africa's most intractable problems,” he said.
The President also thanked the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for
hosting IBM in its premises. “I also wish to thank the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for providing the land on which this Laboratory is hosted. Your commitment to building strategic partnerships for excellence in research, science and technology is indeed welcome,” he said adding that “I am very encouraged by this partnership between the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology through the ICT Board, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and the IBM Cooperation.”
hosting IBM in its premises. “I also wish to thank the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for providing the land on which this Laboratory is hosted. Your commitment to building strategic partnerships for excellence in research, science and technology is indeed welcome,” he said adding that “I am very encouraged by this partnership between the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology through the ICT Board, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and the IBM Cooperation.”
Addressing the President and the dignitaries attended the opening ceremony the Vice Chancellor of
CUEA Dr Pius Rutechura said The church and community of the Eastern Africa region made up of the nine countries that own the University were very excited to receive the news of the establishment of the IMB Laboratory at our Institution, the first of its kind in Africa. “We are grateful to the IBM fraternity and the Government of Kenya for conducting a very transparent and competitive search that led to the choice of our University. The dream has become a reality. I am glad say that the Laboratory has put the name of our University on the map of excellence and we promise to keep terms of engagement as per the MOU that we signed.
CUEA Dr Pius Rutechura said The church and community of the Eastern Africa region made up of the nine countries that own the University were very excited to receive the news of the establishment of the IMB Laboratory at our Institution, the first of its kind in Africa. “We are grateful to the IBM fraternity and the Government of Kenya for conducting a very transparent and competitive search that led to the choice of our University. The dream has become a reality. I am glad say that the Laboratory has put the name of our University on the map of excellence and we promise to keep terms of engagement as per the MOU that we signed.
“As a University, we have put to your disposal, our Facilities, reliable networks up to the grassroots
in the AMECEA region together with our Staff and Students to further the mission and vision of the Laboratory. We look forward to have stronger collaboration to the good of our institutions,” said the Vice Chancellor.
in the AMECEA region together with our Staff and Students to further the mission and vision of the Laboratory. We look forward to have stronger collaboration to the good of our institutions,” said the Vice Chancellor.
The opening of the center is highlighting Kenya’s growing status as the continent’s tech hub with the facility tasked with developing and deploying innovative IT applications to tackle challenges such as inefficiencies in public procurement, water and sanitation, energy management, financial inclusion, traffic congestion and food insecurity which have hampered economic growth in Africa.
The IBM Africa Lab will focus on three key research areas which include digitization of public service through e-governance solutions; urban development and planning; and ICT skills training.
US tech giant firm said it will use cognitive computing — using computer systems to analyze and process data to help people make decisions — to come up with commercially-viable solutions for Africa’s challenges.
The Nairobi-based research facility becomes the 12th in the world after those in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Switzerland and the US.
Source: AMECEA Social Communication Office
