Mount Kenya University has reaffirmed its support for social business generated from the 10th Social Business Academic Conference hosted by the university in collaboration with Yunus Centre last week.
The interdisciplinary meeting, involving both in-person and virtual attendance, attracted researchers, academics, and students from around the globe.
The mission was to discuss academic papers, practitioner cases and concept notes on innovative ideas on issues related to social business.
MKU’s School of Business and Economics and Graduate Enterprise Academy hosted the seminar under the theme, “Planting the seeds towards a new economy".
The conference was officially opened by Prof Mohammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist and civil society activist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his revolutionary concepts in the fields of microfinance and microcredit.
Closing the ceremony, MKU pro-chancellor Vincent Gaitho said the Covid-19 pandemic has taught the world that “we are one”.
Dr Gaitho said Africa is always lagging behind in the areas of economics and social and political developments, which is a cause for worry.
“For instance, the level of vaccination in Africa compared to other parts of the world remains very low. Africa’s level of food security is also low,” he said.
However, he said the disruption by the pandemic is a wake-up call to establish regional supply systems that are more participatory and sustainable.
“If we cared for each other, the world would be a better place,” he said.
Dr Gaitho said today’s arbitrary political boundaries have no meaning.
“Whatever happens in any one part of the world affects a poor family in the remotest corner of Africa, say pollution, which impacts climate change," Gaitho said.
“We need to rethink the systems that we are using. Climate change, the pandemic and changes in technology demand that we change our systems.”
MKU has started a campaign to have the 3Zero Clubs at all its campuses and at the local communities.
The institution has already established a Yunus Social Business Centre in collaboration with Prof Yunus and his global Yunus Social Business Centre Network.
Dr Gaitho said the 3Zero concept resonates well with the MKU's new status as one of the global hubs for tackling socio-economic inequalities under the UN Academic Impact project.
The UN said it bestowed the status upon the university for its research work on reducing inequalities in Kenya and the East African region.
This year’s meeting was focused on the academic curriculum on social business and research opportunities with a special focus on the East African region.
The main presentations focused on activities and values as they relate to Africa and Yunus academic and social entrepreneurship programmes.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
