In a landmark moment for African higher education and cross-continental collaboration, Strathmore University Business School (SBS), through its Institute of Healthcare Management, played host to a distinguished delegation from Alassane Ouattara University (AOU), Cote d’Ivoire, on the 7th and 8th of May 2025. This pivotal meeting culminated in the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions — a partnership rooted in the shared belief that Africa’s transformation must come from within, through knowledge exchange, research, and sustainable development.
The meeting opened with warm introductions led by Prof. Kokwaro, Director of the Institute of Healthcare Management, setting the tone for a deeply insightful and inspiring series of discussions. Prof. Da Silva followed with a compelling keynote, emphasizing Strathmore’s strength in forging impactful partnerships across Africa. “We must understand that transforming Africa means focusing on growing our own GDP,” he said, reiterating the urgent need for collaborative solutions to unlock Africa’s vast potential.
The delegation from Cote d’Ivoire, led by Prof. Doudou Dimi — Director of the Research Centre for Development at AOU — included three other team members: Dr. Kouakou Konan Jerome, Dr. N’guessan Amenan and Dr. Ouattara Zie Adama, all of whom expressed deep gratitude for the warm reception and the opportunity to learn from SBS’s ecosystem of innovation. Their enthusiasm was matched by Dr. Caesar Mwangi, who delivered heartfelt welcoming remarks. He underscored the richness of Africa’s human, intellectual, and financial resources and lamented the paradox of illegal immigration when the continent holds so much promise. “One institution in East Africa and another in West Africa can catalyse one million positive changes across the continent,” Dr. Mwangi boldly stated.
The agenda featured robust presentations from SBS hub leads, beginning with Prof. Simon Ndiritu from the Agriculture Centre. He showcased their pioneering work in identifying data opportunities to foster partnerships between the public and private sectors. From mapping agricultural actors to optimizing value chains and tackling antibiotic misuse among farmers, the centre is actively translating research into actionable policy and capacity-building initiatives — particularly for pastoralists and offtakes.
Equally impressive was Frank Wafula’s presentation on PRISM — a flagship research centre under the Institute of Healthcare Management. PRISM is structured around three core hubs aimed at strengthening healthcare governance and partnerships in Kenya. Its dual-pronged approach focuses on fortifying private healthcare markets while enhancing public stewardship. Wafula highlighted the importance of moving from competition to collaboration between sectors and emphasized that once private healthcare businesses are sustainable, they can be scaled to serve public needs effectively.
Perhaps one of the most symbolic milestones of the visit was the unveiling of the origin of this partnership — a story rooted in the ELEMMINATE Project, also housed under the Institute of Healthcare Management. The relationship was seeded when members of the AOU delegation participated in the LMG Program facilitated by ELEMMINATE. Today, that seed has blossomed into a full-fledged partnership, a testament to the power of long-term vision and strategic collaboration.
The SBS Grants Team, led by Cavin Opiyo, also took the guests through the university’s cutting-edge Research and Innovation system. By incorporating advanced tech systems to monitor and manage research activity, SBS has significantly boosted efficiency and transparency — an area of great interest to the AOU team, who expressed eagerness to replicate similar systems back home.
Prof. Doudou Dimi captivated the audience with an in-depth presentation on a pilot research project exploring the well-being aspirations of the Ivorian population. The initiative is part of AOU’s mission to develop an indigenous social well-being index to track and measure progress using African perspectives and realities. “It is essential that we use African-based indices to solve African problems,” he emphasized, echoing the broader theme of homegrown solutions.
The event was a masterclass in collaboration. SBS brought together faculty experts, including Rosemary Orlale, Dr. William Muriithi, and Dr. David Chiao. Each presented the dynamic work being carried out across their respective centres and hubs. Their contributions underscored the university’s holistic research, education, and community impact approach.
Rosemary Orlale delivered a stirring message that encapsulated the spirit of the meeting: “Reposition the African narrative by changing the stories told for Africa and by Africans.” Like the partnership itself, her words resonated with the urgent need to build capacity from within and tell the continent’s stories through empowered African voices.
The sense of excitement was palpable as the curtains drew on the two-day event. This wasn’t just a ceremony or a photo opportunity—it was the birth of a powerful Pan-African alliance—one that bridges East and West Africa, academia and community, research and real-world application. At its core, the SBS–AOU partnership stands as a blueprint for how African institutions can unite to drive change, foster innovation, and ultimately transform the continent, one milestone at a time.
Article by: Judith Adhiambo Amolo
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