KIU, Western Campus – KIU’s new Chancellor Prof. Yunus Mgaya has today February 2 completed a two-day visit to KIU Western Campus.

Prof. Mgaya, who became chancellor on January 15, held a meeting with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), KIU Western Campus, Prof. Frank Kaharuza Mugisha, the DVC Research, Innovation, Consultancy and Extension (DVC – RICE) Prof. Dr. Durais Rahman and the Assistant DVC Finance and Administration KIU Western Campus, Dr. Mustapha Mundu on February 1.

Today, Prof. Mgaya kicked off the second leg of his visit by getting a tour of KIU Teaching Hospital flanked by Prof. Kaharuza and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr. Umi Bunu, after which he held a meeting with hospital senior staff in the hospital boardroom.

Prof. Mgaya, during the meeting, commended the hospital administration for the good management exhibited.

“Management is very key in any institution. You might have equipment and staff but without good management, you might not hit your targets,” he said. 

He also commended the Chairman Board of Trustees (CBOT) KIU Dr. Al Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba for the massive investment he has made in the hospital.

“During the tour (of the hospital), I observed that there has been massive investment in the Health Center. This investment is always in big setups like Aga Khan Hospital,” he noted.

“You rarely get individuals investing to this level in healthcare, it is always left to governments and organizations,” he added.

“The hospital is contributing to Human Resources for Health in the country. In East Africa, you can see where you stand in contribution to healthcare of the population,” he further added.

Prof. Mgaya also talked about the efficacy of a university degree, noting that we should look at it as more than investing in a future job, but rather an opportunity to transform our young minds and students.

“The world is changing very fast, technology is changing beyond our imagination and Artificial Intelligence is posing many challenges. University education prepares students to overcome these challenges,” he opined.

“University trains people to think. Students ought to know that employers today need well-rounded, well spoken employees who can write and have lots of knowledge that can solve any challenge,” he added.

Prof. Mgaya explained that there is a need for students to engage in some level of research under the guidance of their lecturers and supervisors because it is important in giving them some experience when they are going to pursue their Master’s Degree.

He also talked about the importance of student associations, groups and clubs and he lauded KIU Western Campus for supporting these clubs, basing on the various messages of student associations he saw pinned on notice boards all over the campus.

After the meeting, he proceeded to the campus and was shown around the Institute for Biomedical Research (IBR) by the Dean of the School of Biomedicals Prof. Victor Fischer.

Who is Professor Mgaya?

According to information obtained from the KIU Tanzania Facebook page, Yunus Mgaya is a Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Dar-es-Salaam. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Marine Biology from the University of Dar-es-Salaam in 1986. 

In 1989, he obtained a Masters in Fisheries Biology and Management from the University of British Columbia in Canada. 

In 1991 he joined the National University of Ireland-Galway and obtained his Ph.D. in Marine Aquaculture in 1995. 

He has received several academic awards including one from Commonwealth and Irish Government.

Professor Yunus Mgaya brings with him vast experience, having productively served as a Deputy Vice Chancellor - Planning, Finance and Administration at University of Dar-es-Salaam, Executive Secretary for Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), Chairman Board of Directors for Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute among other portfolios in the Higher Education in Tanzania.

According to the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Prof. Mgaya also served as Board of Trustees of the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (2004–2008); Board of Directors of the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (2009–2016); Ministerial Advisory Board of the Drilling and Dam Construction Agency (2014–2019), and; Board of Directors of Sea Sense (a marine conservation NGO) (2008–2019). 

It is worth noting that Prof. Mgaya has served WIOMSA as a Country Coordinator (1997–2006). 

He was recently appointed by the Vice President’s Office to serve as the Champion of the Northern Mozambique Channel Initiative (2016–To date) and founding member and Vice Chairman of the National Environment Trust Fund (2017–To date).

 Internationally, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Foundation for Science (IFS) based in Stockholm, Sweden (2010–2018) of which he was also a member of its Executive Committee.

He also served as Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and is currently the Chairperson of the university Council for KIU Tanzania.

We wish you well in your new position Prof. Mgaya and welcome to KIU.