By Kurian Musa
Prof. Antony Egeru, a leading scholar from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), visited Egerton University to engage with student entrepreneurs under the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TAGDev) program. The visit focused on bolstering student enterprises and accelerating their growth to unlock more employment opportunities for Kenyan youth.
Prof. Egeru's two-day visit to Egerton University included in-depth discussions with young entrepreneurs involved in various business ventures under the TAGDev project. His focus was on equipping them with strategies to scale their businesses, ensuring that they contribute significantly to job creation and economic development in the region. The scholar emphasized the importance of innovation, strategic growth, and resilience in today’s competitive market.
As part of his visit, Prof. Egeru held meetings with the TAGDev 2.0 secretariat, led by Prof. Nancy Mungai, the program coordinator. He also conducted an interactive session with the first cohort of TAGDev 2.0 students for the 2024/2025 academic year. The TAGDev program, a partnership between RUFORUM and Egerton University, is dedicated to developing the next generation of African leaders in agriculture, focusing on entrepreneurship, business skills, and global competitiveness.
Prof. Egeru's visit underscores RUFORUM’s ongoing commitment to supporting African universities in their mission to contribute to the continent’s growth. The TAGDev program is a key part of this initiative, empowering students to turn their agricultural innovations into thriving enterprises that can drive social and economic progress across Africa.
In line with this goal, the TAGDev entrepreneurship team recently organized a workshop on September 19 at Chester Hotel, Nakuru. The workshop aimed to develop an Entrepreneurship Policy and Equity Sharing Agreement to guide student entrepreneurs in structuring their businesses for sustainable growth. These policies are crucial in ensuring that the businesses developed through the TAGDev program are scalable and competitive.
Additionally, the student entrepreneurs participated in an Ideation Weekend, designed to provide hands-on training in business concept development, strategic planning, and monetization. These skills are vital for turning innovative ideas into viable and profitable enterprises.
Prof. Egeru's visit is expected to provide further momentum to the program, ensuring that student enterprises at Egerton University continue to thrive under RUFORUM’s guidance and support.
