Thursday 6th February, 2025 was the beginning of a new chapter in the University of Eldoret as the African Institute of Professional and Development Studies (AIPDS) was officially launched by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot.

Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot declared that the AIPDS will be Africa’s Centre of Excellence that would be anchored on education and research, training and professional studies and exchange programmes. He said that the Institute was aligned to the transformation and repositioning agenda that started 1½ years ago when he joined the University having the role to nurture leaders and innovators in a global world, leaders who understood and did research in Africa from the original and undiluted perspective. He reminded the participants of the University’s mission of providing quality education, training, research and entrepreneurship in Science, Agriculture, Engineering, Technology and the Arts to meet the needs and aspirations of a dynamic society,  acknowledging UoE transcendence as the Institute captured and integrated research and all development perspective in a unified approach. He emphasized the anticipated achievement of the institute which would be strengthening education and research, training and professional development and exchange programmes across the globe to facilitate academic and student mobility. The institute would facilitate frameworks in various angles of the Arts working together to enhance the scope, reach and impact in training and research. The institute would have impact and visibility by collaborating with partners providing institutional strengthening across the world, bringing connections and partners working together to provide scientific value, networks, collaborative research perspective, academic exchange and opportunities for the University.

The event started with a presentation from the Eagles drama club which set the stage for the welcome speech from Prof. Godfrey Netondo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Students’ Affairs). In his remarks he said the Institute was a major milestone for the University and the Academic Division in particular. The transdisciplinary approach and strong partnerships were required to take the University to the next level. He said, ‘research is an important part of learning and development. The institute places the University in a unique position for greater research partnership.’ The AIDPS would identify individuals who would facilitate international research opportunities.

Dr. Otieno Ong’ayo, the Ag. Director AIDPS thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his vision of making UoE the home of research that would make a difference in education in the University. The approach will be epistemic decolonization of how education and research would be done grounded on the University values and humanity. ‘The philosophy of the institute is based on responsiveness, transformation and transcendence,’ he said. He mentioned that the institute would strengthen, support and facilitate education for transdisciplinary research. The institute would be founded on the pillars of education and research, training and professional courses, research and partnerships.

The key note speaker, Dr. Khanysile Tshabalala, (Continental Chairperson African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows (APNIFFT), gave a talk on African spiritually and the dichotomies of education based on various quotations and expressions of Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Steve Biko. She mentioned with regret that UBUNTU was being weakened by capitalism and African were becoming more ‘unafrican’ or western as capitalism thrived where there were no morals. The talk was a blend of deep African cultural expositions and she ended with the quote from Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o “Our lives are a battlefield on which is fought a continuous war between the forces that are pledged to confirm our humanity and those determined to dismantle it; those who strive to build a protective wall around it, and those who wish to pull it down; those who seek to mould it and those committed to breaking it up; those who aim to open our eyes, to make us see the light and look to tomorrow and those who wish to lull us into closing our eyes”

The speakers during the event were;

1. Dr. Khanyisile Litchfield Tshabalala (PhD), Continental Chairperson, African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows (APNIFFT). A retired Rear Admiral Junior Grade Suth African Navy
2. Dr. Rahab Njeri (PhD) - A historian and decolonial scholar, University of Cologne, Founding  Fellow at African Institute of Professional and Development Studies (AIPDS)
3. Odilla Okonga (BSc) - Teacher and Founder of Online International African School in The Netherlands, Founding Fellow African Institute of Professional and Development Studies (AIPDS)
4. Dr.  Elizabeth Ngutuku (PhD)- Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economic and Political Science, Reserach Fellow at African Institute of Professional and Development Studies (AIPDS)
5. Liesbeth Peroti (MA) -  Performing Artist, Music pedagogy and musicology, Suriname and The  Netherlands.