Pre-Conference Events
Monday October 27, 2025
Room:
Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only
Tuesday October 28, 2025
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Closed Meeting. By Invitation Only
Wednesday October 29, 2025
Room:
Closed Event. By Invitation Only
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Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only
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Closed Event. By Invitation Only
Open Science Training Workshop
Room:
Closed Meeting. By Invitation Only
Main Conference Programme
Thursday October 30, 2025
Name tag collection and check-in start at 7 AM
Room:
Session Chair: Prof Madara Ogot, CEO UbuntuNet Alliance
Opening Remarks
Mrs Miriam Chahuruva, CEO ZIMREN (5 mins)
Chair of the Board ZIMREN (5 mins)
Prof Helicy Ngambi, Chair of the Board, UbuntuNet Alliance (5 mins)
EU representative, Zimbabwe (5 mins)
Official Address and Conference Opening
Guest of Honour (20mins)
Keynote Address 1
(20mins)
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room: Papa 1
Session Chair:
AI-Driven Eco-Resilience: Forging Sustainable Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity in East African Research & Education Networks
Stephen Wanjau, Murang’a University of Technology, KENYA
A Strategic Approach to Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity.
Neema Sizya, TERNET, TANZANIA
Measuring the Readiness of Research and Education Networks (RENs) for Disaster Occurrences in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Joyce Mtawali, MAREN, MALAWI
Room:
Session Chair:
Open Access vs. Subscription-Based Publications: Evaluating Research Impact and Visibility, and Assessing the Impact of Publishing Models on IR Content at BUAN
Lebogang Seleka-Gopolang, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), BOTSWANA
Advancing Inclusive Open Science: A Contribution Drive to Expand Glosario’s Multilingual Data Science Glossary
Angelique Trusler, The Carpentries, SOUTH AFRICA
Kwame Nkrumah University: Evolution And Challenges in Managing Postgraduate Research Reports
Mpundu Chilonga, Kwame Nkrumah University, ZAMBIA
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Session Chair:
Building an African Bioinformatics Data Ecosystem: Leveraging NRENs to Support Genomics Research and Collaboration
Joachim Ssenkaali, Lira University, UGANDA
Enhancing Access to Computational Resources through deployment of Research and Education Network (REN)-Enabled High-Performance Computing and Cloud Infrastructure: The Case of NgREN and Covenant University
Chinedu Otuya, Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), NIGERIA
Advancing innovation and research in Malawi: the role of high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure
Colleta Libale, National College of Information Technology, MALAWI
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Session Chair:
Modelling Entrepreneurial And Innovation Ecosystem For Research Outputs Commercialisation In Zimbabwe State Universities
Joshua Simuka, Harare Institute of Technology, ZIMBABWE
The GEANT Twinning program – Piloting Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) in Uganda.
Arthur Tumwesigye, RENU, UGANDA
The Power of International Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships in the Sustainability of NRENs.
Nisreen Al Kouz, ASREN, JORDAN
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
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Session Chair:
Fortifying the Network Without Breaking the Bank: A Virtualized Security Approach for NRENs
Isaac Newton Wobomba, RENU, UGANDA
Cyber-Resilience in Quantum-Ready Research and Education Networks: A Framework for African NRENs
Clayton Takayidza, ZIMBABWE
Resilient and Secure Network Expansion: Scaling MoRENet’s International Bandwidth from 5 to 60 Gbps via AmLight-SACS and Cross-Regional Partnerships
Victor Guambe, MoRENet, MOZAMBIQUE
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Session Chair:
Designing Digital Repositories Framework for Advancing Open Access and FAIR Principles in Tanzania
Edger J. Mtitu, The Institute of Finance Management (IFM), TANZANIA
Mapping open access book publishing stakeholders in Africa: enhancing collaboration and bibliodiversity
Josiline Chigwada, Chinhoyi University of Technology, ZIMBABWE
Crossref (tbc)
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Session Chair:
From Free Access to Sustainability: The MoRENet Monetisation Strategy in Mozambique
Clementina Mataveia, MoRENet, MOZAMBIQUE
A Resource Sharing Framework for Sustainable Business Continuity among the NRENs
Simon Nkumbugwa, TERNET, TANZANIA
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Session Chair:
Effective Stakeholder Engagement for NREN Sustainability: Experiences from RENU
Asiimwe Mangyeri, RENU, UGANDA
Advancing Sustainable Identity Infrastructure Through Integrated Managed Services and Open-Source Collaboration
Revelation Nyirongo, UbuntuNet Alliance, MALAWI
South African National Research Network (SANReN) Connect Proof-of-Concept service
Kasandra Pillay, South African National Research Network, SOUTH AFRICA
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Friday October 31, 2025
Name tag collection and check-in start at 7 AM
Room
Session Chair:
Keynote Address 1: (tbc) (30 mins)
Keynote Address 2: (tbc)(30 mins)
Keynote Address 3: (tbc) (30 mins)
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room:
Session Chair:
Overcoming Internet Limitations in Tertiary Education: Insights from KENET’s Initiative
Anne Inapat, KENET, KENYA
From Bookshelves to Bandwidth: The Librarian’s Role in Shaping Africa’s Connected Education Future
Aishatu Hassan Muhammad, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Nigeria, NIGERIA
Connectivity for digital literacy
Erik Huizer, NREN Consultant, NETHERLANDS
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Session Chair:
Institutional Readiness for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration in Teaching and Learning: A Case of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University.
Serah Beza Mbewe, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, ZAMBIA
Unlocking Africa’s Research Data for AI Through Fair-Aligned Data Infrastructure
Grace Gausi, MAREN, MALAWI
Tropical Cyclone Trajectory Forecasting in the Southwest Indian Ocean Based On Deep Learning
Lucio Nhampimbe, Eduardo Mondlane University, MOZAMBIQUE
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Session Chair:
Green Networking for African Research and Education Institutions: A Roadmap to Sustainable Digital Infrastructure
Letsatsi Phinehas Lekhooa, National University of Lesotho, LESOTHO
Building Secure, Inclusive, and Green Digital Infrastructures for Global Knowledge Sharing
Smart Moonga, Monze Nursing School, ZAMBIA
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Session Chair:
The Africa Datafication Project (AfDaP): A Proof of Concept for Ethical, Scalable, and Inclusive Data Ecosystems.
Bosire Omwoye Onyancha, University of South Africa, SOUTH AFRICA
Navigating the FAIR Frontier: Assessing the Prospects of Implementing FAIR Principles in Research Data Management for Academic Libraries in Zimbabwe.
Primerose Godini, Women’s University in Africa, ZIMBABWE
Towards a Decolonial and Policy-Aligned Framework for Open Science and Open Educational Resources (OER) in Africa: Ensuring Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) Data and Educational Materials
Humphrey Masimba Makumbirofa, Harare Institute of Technology, ZIMBABWE
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room:
Session Chair: Prof Madara Ogot, CEO UbuntuNet Alliance, MALAWI
Women Hackathon 2025: Lightning Talks and Awards
5-minute lightning talks from four teams and awards (45 mins)
Keynote Address 5
Keynote Address 6:
Announcement of NREN National Connectivity Awardees: European Commission
Closing
Prof Helicy Ngambi, Chair of the Board of Trustees, UbuntuNet Alliance
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Who Should Attend/Why should you attend?
- College and University ICT Directors (or equivalent) and Librarians – Opportunity to present on the extent of digitalisation in your institution, learn from others as well as gather information and hold discussions on challenges faced, potential digital solutions, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Researchers, academics, students – Share how you are using digital technologies and the UbuntuNet Alliance/NREN research and education network to support your research, teaching and learning as well as on future directions. Provides opportunities to learn and form new collaborations across the continent.
- Government officers (related to ICT and Education) – Expound on your government’s current and future policies, actions, and plans in stimulating the redesign of digitalised African universities. Gives you an opportunity to learn from what is happening in other countries.
- Private/Industry – Present case studies on the emerging digital technologies in support of the digitalised African University. You have the opportunity to learn and discuss about the challenges universities face, present solutions, seek potential business.
- NREN Community – opportunity to listen to the voice of the customer and learn areas where the services offered by NRENs can be catalyst of and anchor of the redesigned digital college and university.