WELCOME REMARKS BY THE INTERIM VICE CHANCELLOR, DR. LOLA ODUBEKUN DURING THE “LINDA MTOTO RESEARCH PROJECT” COLLBORATIVE AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI (UON), THE FREE PENTECOSTAL FELLOWSHIP OF KENYA (FPFK) AND THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA (USIU-AFRICA) HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024, SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ROOFTOP, USIU-AFRICA

Preamble
Honorable Vice Chancellors, Members of the University Governing Bodies, Management Councils, and Faculty; Esteemed Donors; Research Partners, Graduate and Undergraduate Researchers and Students; Ladies and Gentlemen:
All protocols observed.

Welcome and significance of the collaboration
Good morning and welcome to the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa). It is a great pleasure and an honor to have you all here this morning for this significant Collaborative Agreement Signing Ceremony which brings higher education research institutions together with the technical capacity-building expertise and practical outreach of a values oriented not-for-profit, community-based organization, to enhance child protection, in Busia County, along the Kenya-Uganda border over 5 years.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Professor Stephen Kiama, and other esteemed senior leaders from the University. Your presence here underscores the importance of collaboration and shared goals in the academy and your regard for this project in particular. It is one that seeks to address the devastating impacts of gaps in societal responses to harms against children that include: trafficking in children; sexual assault against minors; forced labor; forced marriage; and even physical assault and violence—in the name of “discipline”—that results in the physical maiming and often the death of the children and young people on the receiving end.

A special acknowledgment also, to Bishop John Kitur, the General Secretary of the Free Pentecostal Fellowship of Kenya, which has driven several important child protection initiatives over the years with the distinguished senior leadership of the FPFK. We are a non-sectarian, private higher education institution that educates the whole person for leadership and impactful community service.

We are grateful for your sponsorship and your partnership in this meaningful endeavor. The focus areas of FPFK’s Department of Social Development, which include among other areas: economic empowerment and resilient livelihoods, human rights, gender and social inclusion, peacebuilding and governance, are very much in line with our course offerings and the subject matter expertise of USIU-Africa faculty.

In that regard, I would also like to recognize and appreciate the USIU-Africa team and colleagues. Dr. Mercy Kaburu (Assistant Professor, International Relations) has worked tirelessly in serving as our key representative for this collaboration along with Dean School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Josephine Arasa, Professor Martin Njoroge, DVC-Academics, Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research, Professor Amos Njuguna, Senior Researcher, Office of Research, Grants and Contracts, Mr. Carol Yogo, Lawyer and child protection expert Vanessa Cordeiro-Williams, and several others. Thank you, all, for your dedication and commitment to the topic of child protection and the success of this collaboration.

Each partner brings unique strengths and perspectives to the table, creating a robust foundation for collaborative research and community engagement that will see the successful implementation of the Linda Mtoto Project. A key outcome will be the creation of lasting solutions and ending the multi-generational transmission of trauma resulting from violence experienced during childhood.

The potential reach of the project in human terms, is vast. By using participatory strategies that engage the communities involved we seek to enhance partnerships that bring involved communities fully onboard in addressing the issues, increasing understanding and knowledge toward harm prevention, and ensuring children’s access to health, a quality education, and the ability to pursue a life of meaningful contribution to society.

The Linda Mtoto project holds immense significance, not only for our institutions but for the broader context of Kenya and Africa. By combining our academic prowess and the FPFK's on-the-ground presence, we aim to create lasting positive change in the lives of children who in turn will grow up to strengthen our communities.

It is important to note that one of the contributions of this project is the provision of financial assistance to masters and doctoral students interested in conducting research related to child abuse and protection at USIU-Africa and UoN. This initiative aligns with our strategic mission at USIU-Africa of fostering academic excellence, social responsibility, and solving difficult global problems.

I hope that the signing of this Collaborative Agreement is not just a one-time event but signifies the beginning of a sustained partnership for the good of children and young people.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to everyone present here today. Your commitment to this collaborative venture speaks volumes about our collective dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of our vulnerable but highly resilient children and young people and their communities. It also challenges us to recognize our role in doing more for positive practical outcomes using with the expertise we have.

We invite our esteemed visitors to take a few minutes after the ceremony, to explore our campus and begin to get to know us better as we embark together on this journey of collaboration and positive change in protecting children.

Once more, welcome!

Thank you.