Ruto appoints Dutch environmentalist Patrick Verkooijen as new UoN Chancellor

President William Ruto has appointed Dutch environmentalist, Prof. Patrick V. Verkooijen, as the new Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN).

According to an announcement by the institution on Friday, Prof. Verkooijen will serve in the capacity for five years.

“H.E President William Ruto has appointed Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen as the New Chancellor for a five-year term. Prof. Dr. Verkooijen is a distinguished environmentalist with a wealth of experience and expertise,” read the statement.

Prof. Verkooijen now succeeds Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, who served the university for 10 years.

The 54-year-old is the current CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), an international organization dedicated to the challenge of adapting our world to the global climate emergency.

He is also the chair of the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi, and the BanKi-moon Chair on Climate Adaptation Governance at the University of Groningen.

Verkooijen boasts of vast knowledge in climate affairs having served as the World Bank Group Special Representative on climate change, and earlier as its head of climate-smart agriculture before his role as GCA CEO.

In his position as the founding CEO of the GCA, Prof. Verkooijen has built a global organization supporting active adaptation projects in over 30 countries.

He holds a PhD from Wageningen University, an MPA from Harvard, a Master’s in Philosophy from the University of Amsterdam, and an environmental engineering degree from the University of Utrecht Applied Sciences.

In 2022, Prof. Verkooijen was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Nairobi in recognition of his championing of climate resilience for Africa.

He was also honoured with the Green Deal Prize in the 2022 Financial Afrik Awards.