Press Statement
Lilongwe/ Malawi: 24th January 2022: The Board of Trustees of UbuntuNet Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Madara Ogot as the new Chief Executive Officer of UbuntuNet Alliance for a four-year term with effect from 1st February 2022.
Professor Ogot is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nairobi, Kenya where he previously served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise.
Professor Ogot is an accomplished academician with vast experience spanning over 30 years in various fields including administration, planning, finance and academics. He is a holder of two doctorate degrees; a PhD in Mechanical Engineering obtained from Pennsylvania State University (United States) in 1991 and in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi in 2014. He graduated with a BSE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University (United States) in 1987, an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (United States) in 1989 and an MBA (Strategic Management) from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Management (United States) in 1997.
Prior to joining the University of Nairobi, Prof Ogot held several portfolios in the academia in America and Africa. He served as a faculty member at Rutgers University and the Pennsylvania State University in United States of America for 13 years before returning to Kenya, where he served as Managing Director of the University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd (UNES), the commercial arm of the University from 2006-2011 before joining Maseno University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs in 2011. He was appointed Director for Research and Extension at the University of Nairobi in 2016 before ascending to the position of Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension in 2018. In 2019, he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise at the University of Nairobi.
He has served as a member in advisory boards of various international academic institutions including the African Union Governance Campus; International Advisory Board, University of Helsinki, Finland; several International Advisory Boards for African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centers of Excellence; and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Delivery Group, University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He also served as President of the East African Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA).
“UbuntuNet Alliance is delighted to get on board Professor Ogot who brings broad and extensive experience in research and education networking to our organization. He has served in top positions in the academia and in research institutions where he has achievable remarkable success. His broad knowledge and experience in business management, resource mobilization and strategic management will be of great value as it will immensely contribute towards the sustainability of UbuntuNet Alliance. The UbuntuNet Alliance community is excited to have a CEO of such caliber,” says UbuntuNet Alliance Chairperson, Prof. Stephen Simukanga.
“I look forward to serving the NRENs and by extension the educational institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges to the education sector. Working with the great team at the Alliance, we shall join hands with sector players to offer solutions, expand the reach of the Alliance, and implement business models that ensure the Alliance’s and member NRENs’ relevance and sustainability.” says Prof Ogot.
About UbuntuNet Alliance:
UbuntuNet Alliance is the regional Research and Education Networking organisation for Eastern and Southern Africa. It plans, builds and operates UbuntuNet, the regional high-speed internet network dedicated to research and education in Eastern and Southern Africa. UbuntuNet Alliance also promotes and supports the integration of advanced ICT services and tools in research, teaching and learning, taking advantage of the opportunities that come with the Internet. The Alliance was established in the latter half of 2005 by five established and emerging National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), namely MAREN (Malawi), MoRENet, (Mozambique), KENET (Kenya), RwEdNet (Rwanda) and TENET (South Africa). The Membership region of the Alliance spans across Eastern and Southern Africa, covering 26 countries. Currently, 16 countries have joined the Alliance and are at different stages of development. The Alliance is incorporated as a Trust in Malawi and registered and recognized as an International Organization with its secretariat in Lilongwe, Malawi and a technical hub in Kampala, Uganda.
For Further Information
Hastings Ndebvu
Communications Officer
UbuntuNet Alliance
Golden Peacock House
Presidential Driveway
P.O Box 2550
Lilongwe
Cell: +265 999 029 434
Skype: hastings.ndebvu
www.ubuntunet.net