Pre-Conference Events

Monday October 27, 2025

9:00 - 16:30 hrs Day 1 - Women Hackathon 2025

Room: Ruby A

Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only

Final Teams and Projects.

  1. Disaster Shield: A Climate Resilience Scoreboard for Household. Ekariorama Magaleta, Joana Mhone, Yankho kamtukulo. MALAWI
  2. City Air: A Proactive Community-Based Carbon Emission Monitoring and Response System. Martha Kisakye, Martha Namugga, Daphne Nakamyuka. UGANDA.
  3. EcoFleet: Intelligent Monitoring and Emission Profiling of Used Car Imports in Lesotho Using AI and IoT. Nthatisi Hlapisi, Mamasole Leepile, Lintle Tsiu. LESOTHO.
  4. Innovative Approaches for tackling waste management through an ICT Solution. Phumlile Dlamini, Asiphe Malangwane, Nonduduzo Mkhaliphi. ESWATINI.

Tuesday October 28, 2025

9:00 - 16:30 hrs Day 2 - Women Hackathon 2025

Room: Ruby A

Closed Meeting. By Invitation Only

Wednesday October 29, 2025

9:00 - 16:30 hrs Day 3 - Womens Hackathon 2025

Room: Ruby A

Closed Event. By Invitation Only

9:00 - 16:00 hrs UA NREN CEOs Meeting

Room: Sapphire

Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only

9:00 - 16:30 hrs Open Science Training Workshop

Room: Garnet

Closed Event. By Invitation Only

Open Science Training Workshop

16:00 - 18:00 hrs UbuntuNet Alliance Board Meeting

Room: Ruby B

Closed Meeting. By Invitation Only

Main Conference Programme

Thursday October 30, 2025

Name tag collection and check-in start at 7 AM

8:30-10:30hrs Opening Plenary Session

Room: Main Hall
Session Chair: Prof Madara Ogot, CEO UbuntuNet Alliance

Opening Remarks
Mrs Miriam Chahuruva, CEO ZIMREN (5 mins)
Prof. Quinton C Kanhukamwe, 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)

Announcement of AfricaConnect 4 National Connectivity Component NREN Awardees: 
European Commission (10 mins)

Welcoming Lesotho (LesREN) to the UbuntuNet Alliance
Prof Helicy Ngambi, Chair of the Board, UbuntuNet Alliance (5 mins)
Letsatsi Lekhooa, Chairman of the Board, LesREN (5 mins)

10:30-11:30hrs HEALTH BREAK

Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.

11:30-13:00hrs Session 1-1 Disaster Recovery and Continuity Planning for RENs

Room: Diamond
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

11:30-13:00hrs Session 1-2 Advancing Open Science in Africa I

Room: Main Hall
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

11:30-13:00hrs Session 1-3 Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence - I

Room: Ruby A
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

 

11:30-13:00hrs Session 1-4 Strengthening Research and Innovation Ecosystems

 

Room: Sapphire
Session Chair: 

IOTeach: Empowering Youth and Embracing Inclusivity through Accessible IoT Education
Juliana Sarya, IOTeach, TANZANIA

Scaling Equitable Access to Research through Federated Identity Solutions: Addressing Barriers and Expanding Impact in Support of SDGs
Blessing Mawire, Research4Life, SOUTH AFRICA

The Power of International Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships in the Sustainability of NRENs.
Nisreen Al Kouz, ASREN, JORDAN

13:00-14:30hrs LUNCH BREAK

Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.

14:30-16:30hrs Session 1-5 Advanced Cybersecurity & Scalability for RENs.

Room: Diamond
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

14:30-16:30hrs Session 1-6 Advancing Open Science in Africa II

 

Room: Main Hall
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

Crossref and integrity of the scholarly record.
Evans Atoni, Crossref, KENYA

Mapping open access book publishing stakeholders in Africa: enhancing collaboration and bibliodiversity
Josiline Chigwada, Chinhoyi University of Technology, ZIMBABWE

 

14:30-16:30hrs Session 1-7 Building NREN Resilience and Achieving Sustainability

 

Room: Ruby A
Session Chair: 

From Free Access to Sustainability: The MoRENet Monetisation Strategy in Mozambique
Moises Mucelo, MoRENet, MOZAMBIQUE

A Resource Sharing Framework for Sustainable Business Continuity among the NRENs
Simon Nkumbugwa, TERNET, TANZANIA

ZIMREN at the Core: Enabling Research and Education through Resilient Networks and Strategic Partnerships.
Solomon Kasirori, ZIMREN, ZIMBABWE

 

14:30-16:30hrs Session 1-8 Service Innovation and Engagement for NREN Sustainability

Room: Sapphire
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, SANReN, SOUTH AFRICA

16:30hrs AFTERNOON TEA

Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.

19:00hrs Conference Diner at Gava Restaurant

18:00hrs Buses PROMPTLY leave the conference venue. Please arrive at the front of the hotel at 17:45hrs for boarding.

https://www.gavarestaurant.com/ 

 

Friday October 31, 2025

Name tag collection and check-in start at 7 AM

9:00-10:30hrs Plenary Session II : National AI Strategies and the role NRENs

Room: Main Hall
Session Chair: Eliakim Okundi, UbuntuNet Alliance

Keynote Address 1: Implementation of the African Union’s AI Strategy: What Role Can R/NRENs Play. Prof Madara Ogot, UbuntuNet Alliance, MALAWI (30 mins)

Keynote Address 2: Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Technology and Science, ZAMBIA (30 mins)

Keynote Address 3: Development of Kenya’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy. Prof Timonthy Waema, University of Nairobi, KENYA. (30 mins)

10:30-11:30hrs HEALTH BREAK

Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.

11:30-13:00 hrs AfricaConnect4 National Component Meeting

Room: Towers Lounge

Closed Meeting (By Invitation Only)

AfricaConenct4 National Connectivity Awardees, EU and UA.

11:30-13:00hrs Session 2-1 From Access to Impact: Transforming Education through Connectivity

 

Room: Diamond
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

The GEANT Twinning program – Piloting Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) in Uganda.
Arthur Tumwesigye, RENU, UGANDA

11:30-13:00hrs Session 2-2 Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovation

 

Room: Ruby A
Session Chair:  

Assessing 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

11:30-13:00hrs Session 2-3 Roadmaps for Green & Sustainable Network Infrastructures

 

Room: Sapphire
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

 

11:30-13:00hrs Session 2-4 Advancing Open Science in Africa III

 

Room: Main Hall
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

The Global Education Equivalency System: Building Resilient and Sustainable Research and Education Networks of the Future
Clayton Takayidza, Harare Institute of Technology, ZIMBABWE

 

13:00-14:30hrs LUNCH BREAK

Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.

14:30-16:30hrs Closing Plenary

Room: Main Hall
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 4:  The Women In Tech Leadership Programme. Barbara Muthoka, AfChix, KENYA

Keynote Address 5: From Connectivity to Resilience: Securing the Next Generation of Research and Education Networks. Prof. Mercy Chitauro, Nambia University of Science and Technology, NAMIBIA

Closing
Prof Helicy Ngambi, Chair of the Board of Trustees, UbuntuNet Alliance

16:30hrs AFTERNOON TEA

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.

UbuntuNet-Connect2025 -
October 30-31, 2025, Harare, Zimbabwe​

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