Pre-Conference Events
Monday October 27, 2025
Room: Ruby A
Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only
Final Teams and Projects.
- Disaster Shield: A Climate Resilience Scoreboard for Household. Ekariorama Magaleta, Joana Mhone, Yankho kamtukulo. MALAWI
- City Air: A Proactive Community-Based Carbon Emission Monitoring and Response System. Martha Kisakye, Martha Namugga, Daphne Nakamyuka. UGANDA.
- EcoFleet: Intelligent Monitoring and Emission Profiling of Used Car Imports in Lesotho Using AI and IoT. Nthatisi Hlapisi, Mamasole Leepile, Lintle Tsiu. LESOTHO.
- Innovative Approaches for tackling waste management through an ICT Solution. Phumlile Dlamini, Asiphe Malangwane, Nonduduzo Mkhaliphi. ESWATINI.
Tuesday October 28, 2025
Room: Ruby A
Closed Meeting. By Invitation Only
Wednesday October 29, 2025
Room: Ruby A
Closed Event. By Invitation Only
Room: Sapphire
Closed Meeting: By Invitation Only
Room: Garnet
Closed Event. By Invitation Only
Open Science Training Workshop
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
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)
Keynote Address 1: Embracing the AI Revolution: Implications for Research and Education. Prof Arthur Mutambara, University of Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA (20 mins)
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room: Diamond
Session Chair: Prof. Gregoire Njejimana
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: Main Hall
Session Chair: Moises Mucelo
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
Room: Ruby A
Session Chair: Brian Masiga
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
Room: Sapphire
Session Chair: Solomon Dindi
Advancing Sustainable Identity Infrastructure Through Integrated Managed Services and Open-Source Collaboration
Revelation Nyirongo, UbuntuNet Alliance, MALAWI
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
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room: Diamond
Session Chair: Letsatsi Lekhooa
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
Room: Main Hall
Session Chair: Stein Mkandawire
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
Room: Ruby A
Session Chair: Kennedy Aseda
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
Room: Sapphire
Session Chair: Tsepo Tsheko
Effective Stakeholder Engagement for NREN Sustainability: Experiences from RENU
Asiimwe Mangyeri, RENU, UGANDA
IOTeach: Empowering Youth and Embracing Inclusivity through Accessible IoT Education
Juliana Sarya, IOTeach, TANZANIA
South African National Research Network (SANReN) Connect Proof-of-Concept service
Kasandra Pillay, SANReN, SOUTH AFRICA
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
18:00hrs Buses PROMPTLY leave the conference venue. Please arrive at the front of the hotel at 17:45hrs for boarding.
Friday October 31, 2025
Name tag collection and check-in start at 7 AM
Room: Main Hall
Session Chair: Eliakim Okundi, UbuntuNet Alliance
Keynote Address 2: Implementation of the African Union’s AI Strategy: What Role Can R/NRENs Play. Prof Madara Ogot, UbuntuNet Alliance, MALAWI (30 mins)
Keynote Address 3: Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Technology and Science, ZAMBIA (30 mins)
Keynote Address 4: Development of Kenya’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy. Prof Timonthy Waema, University of Nairobi, KENYA. (30 mins)
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
Room: Diamond
Session Chair: Dr Frank Seth
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
Room: Ruby A
Session Chair: Miriam Chavuruva
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
Beyond Authentication: When Secure Access Demands Identity Assurance.
Laura Paglione, Research Data and Communications Technologies. UNITED STATES
Room: Sapphire
Session Chair: Harold Bowa
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
Tropical Cyclone Trajectory Forecasting in the Southwest Indian Ocean Based On Deep Learning
Lucio Nhampimbe, Eduardo Mondlane University, MOZAMBIQUE
Room: Main Hall
Session Chair: Dr Jo Havemann
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 in Africa: Ensuring Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data and Educational Materials.
Humphrey Masimba Makumbirofa, Harare Institute of Technology, ZIMBABWE
Take some time to visit the exhibitions and network.
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 5: The Women In Tech Leadership Programme. Barbara Muthoka, AfChix, KENYA
Keynote Address 6: 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
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.