Universities Urged to Support TAGDev 2.0 Student Participants

African university leaders have been encouraged to show tolerance and understanding towards students participating in the “Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development” (TAGDev 2.0) program. The appeal was made during the second RUFORUM Triennial Conference, held on July 12, 2024, at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia, where TAGDev 2.0 was officially launched.

The TAGDev initiative, which began with Gulu and Egerton Universities in Uganda and Kenya, has demonstrated significant success in supporting students from economically challenged backgrounds. These institutions showed flexibility in their admission processes, allowing students who might not have met the standard entry requirements to enroll, recognizing that these students had potential that was not fully reflected in their grades. Many of these students went on to excel in their studies, often graduating at the top of their classes.

“There were instances where difficult decisions had to be made, such as accommodating students who were pregnant at the time of enrollment. However, the choice was made to support these students, resulting in successful outcomes and timely graduations. The same spirit of understanding and support is now being encouraged among the universities joining TAGDev 2.0” Said Prof. Anthony Egeru.

Building on the success and lessons from TAGDev 1.0, the second phase of the program, in partnership with RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation, will expand to include numerous universities across the continent. Participating institutions will include Africa University in Zimbabwe, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco, the University of Bamenda in Cameroon, the University of the Free State in South Africa, the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, the University of Eldoret in Kenya, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Uganda Martyrs University, the National University of Agriculture in Benin, and the University of Port-Harcourt in Nigeria, alongside the original partners, Gulu and Egerton Universities.

TAGDev 2.0 aims to continue fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s growth and development.