The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) conducted a charity event by giving support to children with special needs at the Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, Good Hope Kiwawa Children’s Home and Ikunda children’s Home in Arusha.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony on July 19, 2022, Dean of Students Ms. Analyce Ichwekeleza narrated that this charity event is to mark the celebration of Nelson Mandela Week which is usually celebrated yearly on 18th of July and for the year 2022 the NM-AIST is celebrating by visiting the needs, and have manage to provide Health Insurance to seven children from the Good Hope Kiwawa Children’s Home and Ikunda Children’s Home. The NM-AIST also handled over cleaning tools and milk for children with special needs at the Referral Hospital of Mount Meru.
"We usually celebrate Nelson Mandela's Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation week every July 18, each year one of the activities that we do includes community service, through provision of support to people in need," said Ms. Analyce Ichwekeleza.
Ms Ichwekeleza added that it is a great honor to be part of the society that comfort and put smiles to children living in difficult environment and to parents having children with special needs.
Mount Meru Referral Regional Hospital Matron Ms. Simphorosa Silalye extended heartfelt gratitude to NM-AIST for the support to the children with special needs and urge to continue with the spirit of dedication to help the community.
"We are grateful for this support of milk, diapers and special tissues, it is a great consolation for the parents of these children, may God bless you all" said Ms. Simphorosa Silalye
On other note, a student from Nelson Mandela, Mr. Daud Flavian said “the support touches the community directly and urge for people to come forward to help people with special needs and improve their lives.
The Arusha Regional Commissioner, Hon. John Mongella congratulated the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) for being at the forefront of contributing to the development of the country through research and innovation conducted by the Institution.
Hon. Mongella said this on July 18, 2022, in Arusha during the commencing of Nelson Mandela's Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation Week, which is celebrated every July 18 and explained that research and innovation carried out by the Institution have helped to solve various challenges facing the society.
"This institution is unique; we are proud of its contribution we see through the research and innovation carried out here; they have certainly helped to provide answers to the various challenges facing our society," said Hon. Mongella.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Luoga, said that education is the greatest weapon that will save the African continent. So the available resources must find enough experts to raise the economy by conducting research and innovation that are productive for developing African countries, including the East African Community (EAC).
He added that in commemorating Nelson Mandela's Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation Week, the Institution would collaborate with government stakeholders, the private sector, primary and secondary schools, and the community to continue improving research and innovation.
In addition, he urges secondary school students to use the Institution for practical science and technology exercises to find more experts who will raise the economic sector by coming up with product innovations to benefit society.
The Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Week Committee, Dr. Lilian Pasape, said the celebration involve various events , including community service by providing NHIF cards to underprivileged children, visiting children's prisons, and cooperating with neighboring schools to inspire them to opt for science and technology studies.
Innoversity Project is a pathway for postgraduates and graduates to develop and create a business idea that will iterate and evolve while gaining the skills and knowledge needed to launch and run a successful business.
That was said by Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Research and Innovation Prof Antony Mshandete during the Innoversity Project Stakeholders engagement meeting conducted at the NM -AIST to introduce the project to stakeholders, set milestones for project implementation and understand how innoversity hubs operate.
CREATES –FNS Centre Leader Prof. Hulda Swai added that the aim of CREATES is educates scientists and researchers to become job-creators and not job-seekers.
“It’s time for researchers to change their mind sets and understand the dynamics on how business works” said CEO of Sahara Ventures Mr. Jumanne Mtambalike
Innoversity Projects aims to support Tanzania Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) students, lecturers and management to intergrate innovation and entrepreneurial approaches in their works to address the skills gap and create employment opportunities for youth.
The two years project (2022-2025) funded by France Embassy to Tanzania will be implemented by Sahara Ventures in collaboration with CREATES-FNS at NM-AIST.
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) Lecturer Dr. Liliane Pasape conducted promotion and coaching on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for girls students from Nganana Primary School, Kikwe Secondary School and Arusha Girls Secondary School in celebrating Nelson Mandela Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) Week.
The program aim at inspiring and supporting to love and opt for science, technology, engineering and innovation for promoting economic growth and sustainable development in Tanzania and Sub Saharan Africa.
NM-AIST has been established and is working to become a world-class institution of higher learning dedicated to the pursuit and promotion of excellence in SETI and its applications for economic growth and sustainable development in Africa.
In addition to the mission to deliver and promote high quality and internationally competitive teaching and learning, research and innovation, and public service in SETI leveraging on entrepreneurship for enhanced value addition to people and natural resources, NM-AIST is also capitalizing on innovation acceleration programs and outreach services under the intuitional motto of Academia for Society and Industry with a view to stimulating, catalyzing, and promoting economic growth and sustainable development in Tanzania and SSA.
The late Nelson Mandela had the vision that the African continent needed scientists who would be the engine of development, therefore thought of having top-notch higher learning institutions that would address the shortage of human resources and groom a critical mass of scientists to solve the problems of Africans and, in the process, increase their level of independence and self-sustainability.
This can be achieved with well-educated citizens and a skills revolution underpinned by Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) for a knowledge society as well as a roadmap to industrial development.
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology hosted teachers and students from INTEL Secondary School and Primary School.
The aim of the visit was to study and acquire professional activities which are run at NM-AIST. The visitors were initially briefed on the institutional background and establishment by the NM-AIST Senior Public Relations Officer, Ms. Neema Mhando.
After a brief introduction teachers and students had an opportunity to be taken to a tour around the campus which involved the computer laboratory and the Life Science Laboratory. They also visited the banana plantation fields where they were able to learn about banana breeding process and hybrid formation from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Research Associate, Mr. Kenndy Jomanga and Research Field Assistance, Mr. Ashraf Mgenzi.