Top Universities In Kenya Spear-head O3 Plus Programme, Check Details.
Two top universities in Kenya have become among the first institutions in the world to spear-head the O3 plus programme lead by the United Nation Organization.
The program aims at boosting the health and well-being of students of all levels of learning to make them ready to become wholesome and more useful members of the community after graduation.
Vice Chancellors of two Kenyan have come out to mobilize all colleges in the country to join the programme.
The University of Nairobi (UoN) and Mount Kenya University (MKU) are spear-heading implementation of the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus) Programme whose aim is to ensure that young people in higher and tertiary education institutions in the Eastern and Southern Africa realise positive health, education and gender equality outcomes through sustained reductions in new HIV infections, unintended pregnancy and gender-based violence.
UNESCO Regional Director, Professor Hubert Gijzen says the programme is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe and is hoped to enable young people reach their full educational potential and contribute more effectively to the development of their countries and region as graduates, professionals and young leaders.
MKU and UoN, being the pilot universities in Kenya, have already covered sufficient ground in the implementation of initial project activities.
During an event that saw participants take a 5.7 Kilometre awareness walk organised by MKU, UoN and UNESCO over the weekend, UoN Vice Chancellor, Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama said the government should do everything possible to help students concentrate on their studies.
“UON will continue to partner with institutions of higher learning to implement the O3 plus. Drugs, peer pressure, raging hormones, sex and early pregnancies are among factors that have been delaying completion of studies among university students and we hope to walk with them to tell them that there is hope”, VC Kiama said.
According to professor Kiama, many students have been suffering in silence mental challenges and effects have continued to be displayed among the learners today.
MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said immense achievements have been recorded at MKU main Campus in Thika through the O3 Plus programme.
The MKU Thika Campus has over 10,000 students but only, 1,400 of them stay within the campus while the rest live outside the university. Moreover, the 1,400 always get out of the university where they interact with the local community in various ways.
Professor Hagan I added that the university has over time established a very strong partnership with the neighbouring community through various types of agreements for the good of our students.
Additionally, he revealed that Thika High School has partnered with MKU to develop a sports facility on a 10-acre piece of land that belongs to the secondary school to boost cohession among the students in sports activities.
Prof David Serem, the Chairman of the Mount Kenya University Council also said that institutions of higher learning host a large number of youths who are energetic and sexually active.
He noted further that these young adults are vulnerable to challenges such as; HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Gender Based Violence, Alcohol/drug and Substance abuse, Mental Health issues among others and for that reason the program will be of great benefit to then.
“We can no longer keep silent, watching the precious lives of these young people being destroyed by behaviours and practices that we can change, modify or even stop altogether. They must be guided so that they can safely transition to responsible adulthood,”
“It is our hope that upon successful implementation of this project in the two pilot universities in Kenya, the project shall be scaled up to other campuses and universities in Kenya,” Prof Serem added.
Currently there is ongoing lessons through digital platforms.
Professor Jaganyi is optimistic that the gains made and lessons learnt through the O3 Plus Project will also be shared with all other Institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya and in Africa for the good of our continent.
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