A team of delegates from the University of Florida’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering FICS research center embarked on a tour across Kenya and Rwanda. Participants included Dr. Farimah Farahmandi (Associate Director of FICS and Wally Rhines Endowed Professor), Dr. Mark M. Tehranipoor (ECE Chair), Dr. Christophe Bobda (Associate Chair for Academics); the delegation engaged with top academic institutions and government leaders. The goal was to enhance collaborative research with modernized curricula and robust partnerships as part of the Gator Africa initiative.
The team of delegates were welcomed by the Strathmore University School of Computing and Engineering (pictured above) Sciences (SCES) in a meeting centered on developing collaborations in key areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, embedded systems, and sustainable engineering. This exciting exchange of ideas led to outcomes: plans for guest lectures, the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and a bold shared vision—the establishment of a pioneering tech hub in Nairobi.
Their journey continued at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), where the team was honored to meet Prof. Dr.-Ing. Benedict M. Mutua, PhD, Rer. Nat., the university’s Vice Chancellor. High-level discussions were held with deans and faculty from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE), delving into the university’s academic programs and setting the stage for joint workshops and the creation of remote laboratories, enabling cross-border research and real-time knowledge exchange.
(Pictured above) A key event of the tour was the delegation’s meeting with Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Kenya’s Principal Secretary at the State Department for Higher Education and Research.
The meeting, hosted at the ministry, brought together leading figures from multiple Kenyan universities—including Prof. Margaret Hutchinson (University of Nairobi), Prof. Elijah I. Omwenga (Open University of Kenya), and Prof. Benedict Mwavu Mutua (TUK). Also present were representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Dr. Christophe Bobda delivered a hands-on seminar at the University of Rwanda, engaging students with cutting-edge instruction in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The FICS team also visited the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACE IoT), learning about local research initiatives and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
The FICS team of delegates concluded their Nairobi discussions with a productive meeting at the University of Nairobi, hosted by Prof. Siphila Wanjiku Mumenya, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Associate Professor Heywood Ouma Absaloms. Discussions focused on research collaborations and faculty exchange opportunities, reinforcing the foundation for a long-term academic partnership. With deep respect for local expertise and a shared vision for cybersecurity transformation, the team left Kenya and Rwanda with enduring connections and a renewed commitment to global impact in areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, embedded systems and sustainable engineering.