Nairobi, Kenya – June 2–6, 2025 Communications experts and directors from across Africa convened in Nairobi for a five-day regional workshop aimed at strengthening the visibility and outreach of the scientific and innovative achievements of the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence – Phase II (ACE II) Project.
Organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the workshop brought together participants from eight countries including Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia to exchange best practices in communication, assess progress in institutional visibility, and sharpen tools for media engagement and digital storytelling.
Professor Jude Ssebuwufu, ACE II Project Coordinator
In his opening address, Professor Jude Ssebuwufu, Director of the ACE II Project, emphasized the importance of enhanced communication to ensure that the innovations and impacts generated by the Centers are widely recognized.
“This is a defining moment. We must ensure that the innovations, impacts, and success stories from our Centers of Excellence are visible to partners, governments, communities, and the public,” he said.
The workshop included sessions on institutional storytelling, strategic media engagement, social media utilization, and harmonization of communication approaches across the region. These collaborative efforts are key to elevating the visibility of the Centers’ work and promoting their contributions to regional development.
WISE-Futures, the African Center of Excellence for Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures based at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania, actively participated in the workshop. The Centre’s involvement reflects its strong commitment to strategic communication as a driver of science, innovation, and impact across the continent.
Ms. Elizabeth Mushi, WISE-Futures Communication Officer (2nd Left) with other participants from Kenya.
Far more than a technical event, the workshop highlighted the growing recognition of communication as a strategic enabler essential for attracting partnerships, sustaining impact, and sharing knowledge that drives Africa’s growth.
Participants are expected to develop a joint communication action plan to guide collective visibility efforts moving forward, ensuring that the voices of African science continue to resonate across borders with clarity, creativity, and influence.
Group photo of participants of the ACE II Regional Communications Workshop, held at Sarova Stanley Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya from June 2–6, 2025