From left to right — Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons and the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and Professor Crispus M. Kiamba, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, prepare to sign the Memorandum of Understanding as FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Hughes Harris (standing) looks on.
Today, Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya Raila Amollo Odinga and signed an agreement that would launch a new partnership in Africa that would benefit FAMU students and faculty.
Odinga was part of a 25-member delegation that helped to pen the agreement that would seek to develop a process for implementing engineering and health sciences training systems at the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology in Kenya.
Among the group accompanying the Prime Minister were Professor Crispus M. Kiamba, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology; and Elkanah Odembo, the Kenya ambassador to the United States.
“Florida A&M University is proud to sign this memorandum of understanding between the government of Kenya,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We are looking forward to exposing our faculty and students to this beautiful country. We believe that through this agreement Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology will become a stronger institution and help FAMU as we strive for excellence in a new era as we develop the millennial FAMUan, a Florida A&M University student who is a citizen of the world.”
FAMU and RIAT agreed to work collaboratively to contribute toward mitigating the national/regional inadequacies in human resource capacity. The selected areas of interest include curricula development and training in engineering, pharmacy, nursing and allied health sciences, environmental science; environmental research collaboration; joint medicinal research; joint grant writing; staff and student exchanges; and funding for facilities development.
“I am very humble and delighted to be here today,” said the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, who is a mechanical engineer by profession. “It is honor to sign this agreement with FAMU.”
Florida State Senator Anthony C. "Tony" Hill Sr., District 1, was in attendance and expressed the importance of the partnership.
“I was glad to have the opportunity to participate in the program today where this historic and important agreement between one of our own great universities---Florida A&M University--- and the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology in the Republic of Kenya,” said Florida State Senator Tony Hill, District 1. “This is a great opportunity to provide some of Florida’s and this nation’s best and brightest students to become fully immersed in a true global partnership.”
About the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology
Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) is one of the pioneer Technical Training Institutes in Kenya. RIAT was founded in 1968 and the first cohort of students was admitted in 1976. Since then, the institute has trained middle-level professionals in various business fields. RIAT is managed by a Board of Governors (BOG) appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
RIAT is located in Kisumu, the third largest town in Kenya and one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country. The town is uniquely positioned on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water body. Also, the town is close to countries in the lake basin, which presents the potential for becoming the leading commercial and administrative center and the opportunity to serve as a transportation hub linking the East African Region by air, rail, water and road.
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