Big names to grace University of Nairobi annual innovation week

Over 1,500 delegates are expected to converge at the University of Nairobi for the annual technology and innovation exhibition event that will be held early next month.

Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi said the second edition of the Nairobi Innovation Week scheduled to start from August 1 to 5, has attracted both local and international participants.

"Our inaugural innovation week last year attracted more than 700 delegates, 13 sponsors, 50 exhibitors and 50 research papers. We expect the number of delegates, sponsor, and exhibitors to double this year," he said.

The conference that targets participants from sectors such as technology and innovation, education, research among others, will entail pre-events, workshops, boot camps, keynote presentations, panel discussions, and exhibitions, graduation of startups and dissemination of research publications.

"The innovation week is in line with the University's positioning as the leader in the field of research, technology and innovation as provided for in the Government's Sector Performance Standards, Kenya's Vision 2030, and the University's Strategic Plan," explained Prof Mbithi.

Among the over 20 Key note speakers lined to address participants during the five day conference include Cabinet Secretaries Joe Mucheru (Information and Communication) and Adan Mohamed(Industrialization) .

Others include include the Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi, Kenya Vision 2030 Director General Gituro Wainanina, Konza Technopolis Development Authority chief executive officer John Tanui.

According to Dr Tom Omwansa, the innovation week committee chairman, Equity Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive, Dr James Mwangi and Barclays Bank of Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori, among a host of other guests, will also give talks on innovation.