1 - 5 December 2025. RUFORUM 21ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2025

The AGM’s overall theme was “Positioning Africa’s Universities and the Higher Education Sector to effectively impact development processes on the continent.” The AGM is the network’s premier continental gathering, bringing together member universities, policymakers, development partners, private-sector actors, students, researchers, and youth innovators from across Africa and beyond.

The 21st AGM underscored that African universities must deepen their role as engines of development, not just education providers. This was central to the meeting’s theme of “Positioning Africa’s Universities and the Higher Education Sector to effectively impact development processes on the continent.” Participants emphasized bridging academia with real-world development challenges by strengthening partnerships among universities, governments, private sector actors, and development partners. The discussions showed that collaborative efforts, rather than isolated initiatives, are critical for generating science-based solutions that can scale across regions, especially in agri-food systems, climate resilience, and workforce development. 

 

A second key lesson was that investing in youth, innovation, and applied science is essential for Africa’s future. The AGM highlighted numerous examples where young innovators, particularly through initiatives like TAGDev (Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Growth and Development), are turning ideas into viable enterprises and tackling food security and employment challenges. Success stories shared at the event—ranging from agritech solutions to value-chain enterprises—illustrated that equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills, digital tools, and practical research opportunities unlocks a powerful demographic dividend. Universities were called upon to integrate experiential learning and innovation ecosystems into curricula to better prepare graduates for emerging opportunities. 

 

Finally, the meeting reinforced that equity, inclusion, and strategic capacity building must be at the heart of higher education transformation. Sessions focused on ensuring access for underserved groups—such as refugees and marginalized students—as well as enhancing the competitiveness of institutions across Africa. Strengthening research capabilities, fostering inclusive policies, and building robust networks for knowledge exchange were seen as necessary steps toward more equitable and impactful higher education systems. By aligning university strategies with continental frameworks like Agenda 2063 and CAADP, stakeholders agreed that collective action can drive sustainable development and ensure that universities contribute meaningfully to national and regional priorities.

 

Pre-events

The week of 17th – 21st November 2025 marked the official kick-off of a series of RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM) pre-events, sending ripples of anticipation across Africa’s agricultural innovation landscape. The blended meetings draw together the vast RUFORUM Network, and other key stakeholders of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) to share space, exchange insights, and formulate a roadmap to accelerate efforts towards a resilient, sustainable and future-ready agri-food system for Africa.

 

 

 

 

1. Download the Programme and Abstracts for Day One
   * Harnessing Intellectual Property to Protect and Promote Indigenous Knowledge Systems in
   
   Agriculture - Case studies included (a) Hoodia (Southern Africa) (b) Penja Pepper (Cameroon) (c) Morama Bean Project (Botswana), (d) Agro-pastoral systems and sorghum/millet cultivation (Botswana). 
   ** Enhancing food security and climate resilience through bean-based climate-smart agriculture in Nakuru county, Kenya - Beans are an essential component of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Despite these benefits, widespread adoption of bean-based CSA remains low. Key barriers include limited access to improved varieties, weak extension support, limited farmer awareness of CSA practices, and market challenges.
2. Download the Programme and Abstracts for Day Two
3. SCIENTIFIC FORUM AGM 2025 PROGRAMME-DAY 3
4. Download the Programme and Abstracts for Day Four
5. SCIENTIFIC FORUM AGM 2025 PROGRAMME-AI

 

 

Key innovations presented included:

 

• AI-powered crop disease diagnosis
• Drone-based and satellite imaging for soil and water management
• Digital twins for predictive livestock health
• Chemometric tools for rapid plant and soil analysis
• GIS-based analytics
• Fuzzy-logic early warning systems

 

From 24th to 28th November 2025, RUFORUM continued its pre-AGM events in Gaborone, offering a series of thematic activities designed to build momentum ahead of the main AGM. These sessions refined action points that guide implementation in 2026.  You can access the pre-AGM events here.

 

Main programme

 

Day 1 – Opening and High-Level Dialogues (1 Dec)

• Transformative Education & Ecosystem Engagement – Dr. John Nkengasong led discussion on reframing university curricula for impactful engagement

• Official Opening Ceremony – Address by Hon. Prince Maele, Minister of Higher Education, Botswana highlighting the role of education in national development. 

• Africa-Europe High-Level Dialogue on Higher Agricultural Education, Science & Technology – Moderated by Prof. Richard Tabulawa focusing on collaborative frameworks. 

• Poster and exhibition viewing showcasing innovations from member universities. 

Day 2 – Regional & Thematic Breakouts (2 Dec)

• Africa Regional Meetings – Led by Dr. David Chikoye. 

• Youth & Displacement Focus – Prof. David Norris on education access for refugees/displaced persons. 

• Africa-North America High-Level Dialogue – Prof. Kenneth Matengu explored cross-continental higher education alliances. 

• Vice Chancellors’ Forum – Chaired by Prof. Ketlhatlogile Mosepele on leadership transitions and institutional strategies. 

Day 3 – Resilient Systems & Innovation (3 Dec)

• Resilient Agri-food Systems Transformation – Prof. Chandra Madramooto. 

• Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Emerging Technologies – Prof. Ioannis Athanasiadis. 

• Access, Inclusion & Competitiveness – Dr. Aster Addamu discussed equity for underserved populations. 

• Side events on TAGDev partnerships, communication for impact, and TVET challenges. 

Day 4 – Institutional Business & Legacy (4 Dec)

• University-TVET Engagement Discussions – Reporting on collaborative models. 

• RUFORUM AGM Business Meeting – Strategic policy decisions and resolutions. 

• Closing Ceremony & Gala Dinner – Formal closure of annual sessions.