New UoN Chancellor Prof. Patrick Verkooijen explains why he's the right man for the job

Newly appointed University of Nairobi (UoN) Chancellor Prof. Patrick Verkooijen says he is the best choice to transform the institution to international standards.

Prof. Verkooijen, who spoke during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive Show on Wednesday, believes that his vast global connections and influence will help Kenya’s top tertiary institution put its name on the global map and become Africa’s best university.

The Dutch environmentalist pointed out that his position over the past years has enabled him to mobilize resources for the continent and act as a link between the West and Africa, the same way he now plans to do for UoN.

“We want to become and we will become the number one university on the continent. That is why you need a Chancellor who is connected to and from the global North because a lot of funding which is required for that step change has to come from somewhere else. That somewhere else is some of the world which I represent,” he said.

The 55-year-old further cited his wealth of experience gained as the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and other global environmental agencies which he says would be vital in shaping the university into a world-class institution.

He says that within two years, he was able to channel about Ksh.1.4 trillion to Africa.

“I have a paid day job and I have an unpaid Chancellor’s job. In the last two years, I have been extremely active in mobilizing financial resources from the global North to Africa on climate adaptation because Africa is the continent which is suffering the most from the climate emergency, particularly in Kenya …in the last two years USD 9 billion has been mobilized to the continent,” he noted.

“My value add is being a transmission line between the great assets of the best university in the country. Bring the University of Nairobi to the world and at the same time bring the world to the University of Nairobi. It’s a very exciting, humbling assignment and I am extremely determined to make it happen.”

Prof. Verkooijen was appointed by President William Ruto early this year to serve for a period of five years. He succeeded Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, who served the university for 10 years.