SECRETARY GENERAL LAUNCHES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN CO-OPERATIVE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN MOSHI

Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera gives his speech

EAC Secretary General Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera hand over plaque of the EAC Centre of Excellence to the Hon. Al Noor Kassum Chancellor, Moshi Co-operative University.

EAC Secretary General Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera received by Prof. Faustine K. Bee the Acting Vice Chancellor MoCU,and other Lecturers

The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. RIchard Sezibera yesterday launched the EAC Centre of Excellence in Co-operative and Business Management at the Moshi Co-operative University in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Addressing Hon. Al Noor Kassum, the Chancellor and Prof. Faustine K. Bee the Acting Vice Chancellor of Moshi Co-operative University; Hon. Prof. Gerald Monela Interim Chairperson MoCU Council; Hon. Kate Kamba, Vice Chairperson SUA Council, Members of Diplomatic Corps present, Academic and non-academic staff; Government and Municipal Council Leaders present, the Secretary General congratulated the former Moshi University College of Co-operative and Business Studies (now Moshi Co-operative University) for having been selected to be the EAC Centre of Excellence in Co-operative and Business Management, saying “This is a memorable feat not only to the University but to the entire co-operative sector in the East African region”.

He said it was gratifying to note that the University was able to go through that rigours and eventually emerged as ‘a centre of excellence’. From the various Organs which did the screening, the EAC Secretariat was satisfied, beyond doubt, that this University is truly a centre which is relentless in the pursuit of continuous improvement in both the results and the way the results are achieved’.

The Secretary General reiterated that EAC’s motivation to create centres of excellence was aimed at shaping a common vision and building mutual trust and understanding around the region. The primary objective was to identify institutions that are capable of developing and strengthening innovating approaches aimed at providing top quality training and education.

He disclosed that a total of 25 applicants from all the EAC member-states participated in the selection process. But, only four applicants (including MoCU) from Tanzania were able to go through.

Amb. Sezibera said the process was guided by a number of principles and criteria that included: results orientation, partnership development, leadership and constancy of purpose, management by processes and facts, target/clientele focus, public responsibility, people development involvement, and continuous learning, innovation and improvement.

The EAC official informed the audience that the Partner States of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and the host, United Republic of Tanzania and other stakeholders are expected to make use of the expertise, which the Centre is endowed with. “The challenges that face the co-operative sector in our member-states are very apparent, through joint efforts with the Centre, we are likely to address satisfactorily most of these challenges”, he affirmed.

He pledged the Community’s continued support to MoCU as it strives to attract scholars interested in Integration Studies from within and outside East Africa thereby providing them with the opportunity to study the successes and efforts in region integration.

The launching of the EAC Centre of Excellence in Co-operative and Business Management coincided with the 9th graduation ceremony of the Moshi Co-operative University which 2,193 graduands receiving certificates in various disciplines