By Yvonne Kageha

On June 13, USIU-Africa witnessed a historic moment as Chancellor, Ambassador Dennis Awori and Vice Chancellor, Professor Mwenda Ntarangwi, were installed in a joint ceremony. Held on campus, the event brought together the university community, Vice Chancellors from other universities, and other academic leaders and veterans from within and outside the country.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran, Chair of the Board of Trustees, termed it a significant progression in the university leadership, noting that the board of trustees is excited for this transition and looks forward to working with Amb. Awori as he provides his wisdom and expertise that will help the institution achieve its mission and vision. “We wish him every success in this new and extremely important chapter,” she stated.

After her remarks, Prof. Eileen read citation for the outgoing Chancellor Dr. Manu Chandaria. She commended him for his exemplary leadership and outstanding achievements and assured that all the values he has instilled into this community ranging from integrity, dedication to education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and philanthropy will be remembered for years to come. Following this reading, Prof. Eileen introduced Ambassador Dennis Awori upon which he was installed becoming the second Chancellor.

Delivering his address, Ambassador Awori highlighted the university’s strength as a truly pan-African institution that draws its strength from the diversity, talent, and ambition of students across the continent. “This university is a beacon of hope and a cradle of possibility, where minds are enriched, futures are shaped, and leadership is cultivated,” he stated. He explored the university’s strong foundation, noting that the Innovation and Incubation Center and the Flagship Design Your Future Integrated Innovation Pipeline Program are powerful platforms that can be built on. He also announced the university's expansion into emerging fields such as Sustainability and ESG, calling it a bold response to the most urgent challenges of our time, which are climate change, environmental degradation, ethical governance, and social equity.

As he accepted the instrument of power, Chancellor Awori pledged to leverage his networks within Kenya and beyond to support USIU-Africa graduates' continued growth and success, stating that the world is waiting for them to shape it. Sharing his belief that universities should move beyond the traditional model of simply offering knowledge, Ambassador Awori looks forward to helping build a proactive, inclusive, and responsive leadership culture. Furthermore, he promised to bridge the gap between education and employment by ensuring graduates are not simply looking for jobs but creating them, leading in them, and transforming them through extensive industry partnerships and entrepreneurship programs.

Following his speech, Mr. Paul Kasimu, Chair of the University Council highlighted university’s history. He remarked that since inception the university has been under the guidance of capable and world-class leadership which has shape USIU-Africa into one of the leading universities in Africa. “As Ambassador Awori and Professor Mwenda embark on this new chapter, I believe they will drive us closer to our vision of being a premier institution of academic excellence with a global perspective,” he stated. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Kasimu introduced Professor Mwenda Ntarangwi who was officially installed making him the first Kenyan Vice Chancellor.

In his address, Prof. Mwenda recognized leaders who preceded him, commending them for the efforts and devotion they invested in making this great institution what it is today. He set a visionary tone for his tenure using the metaphor of building a house to illustrate USIU Africa’s ongoing journey of growth and transformation through excellence molding it into a place where knowledge, creativity, innovation and care for community and the environment thrive. “This is not a new house but one we keep building, remodeling, and expanding as our needs and styles change,” he expressed.

He shared his commitment to recognizing and building upon university’s strong foundation, rooted in core values such as life-long learning, integrity, innovativeness, social responsibility, and academic freedom. He promised to grow research funding while involving students more actively in knowledge creation, promote inclusivity and diversity, support innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, and cultivate a sense of belonging, university pride, and shared purpose.