Ruto appoints Dutch Professor Patrick Verkooijen as UoN Chancellor
2 min read
President William Ruto appoints environmentalist Professor Patrick Verkooijen as the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN)
President William Ruto appoints environmentalist Professor Patrick Verkooijen as the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN).
According to the Gazette Notice published on Friday, the new Chancellor will serve for five years with effect from January 12, 2024.
Fifty-four-year-old -old Verkooijen is the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint — PATRICK V. VERKOOIJEN (PROF.) to be the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from January 12, 2024,” Ruto directed.
In September 2022, he was appointed as the Distinguished Chair of The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies by the University of Nairobi. While accepting the appointment, Verkooijen used the occasion to underline the climate emergency in Africa.
Verkooijen is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) – an international organisation that is dedicated to providing solutions to curbing global climate effects.
Governor Simba Arati life in danger; ODM
Frustrated family drops patient on life support at Kenya Power offices
Kenya raise concern over South Africa genocide case against Israel at the Hague
Sonko responds over his fallout with former boxing champion Conjestina Achieng’
Safaricom gifts MPesa customers with cash after downtime
Throughout his career, Verkooijen has worked with heads of state and government from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. He has also organised over half a dozen Summits of world leaders aimed at elevating the cause of climate adaptation.
Before GCA, the professor served as the World Bank Group’s special representative on Climate Change. He was also the professor of Practice of Sustainable Development Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States.
Owing to his achievements, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by UoN in 2012- recognising his efforts in championing climate resilience in Africa.
The Dutch national holds a PhD from Wageningen University, Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Havard and a Master in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam, and an environmental degree from the University of Utrecht Applied Sciences.
Also read,
CJ Martha Koome addresses complaints over corrupt judges
Kalonzo attends LSK protest against President Ruto
Missing student found dead in a classroom ceiling
Former Kenyan minister arrested in Uganda
Kenyan employees to face higher NSSF deductions beginning February
Follow us
