I was at the world headquarters of International Centre of Insect Ecology and Physiology (ICIPE) at Duduville Kasarani Campus, Nairobi, attending the inaugural ICIPE Science Week 2024 where we explored ‘Journeys Through the Intricacies of Insect Science’. This was a very unique gathering that highlighted a celebration of cutting-edge science, technology and innovations for a healthier Africa and the people behind it!
I had struggled through a Mbita early morning snarlup traffic jam which extended into the normally free expressway. It was cold but I was firmly determined to attend. After all, this was my Alma mater, where I spent 24 years of my professional career, surviving 3 Directors General.
What a refreshingly amazing display of excellent scientific innovations by young talented scientists at this one-day exhibition of the Science Week. So happy was I to see that the dream that my mentor and friend, the late Prof. Thomas R. Odhiambo (TRO) had in the late 60s, and which he carefully nurtured through the 70’s, 80’s and part of the 90’s as its founding director, has matured and is being ably steered by a truly African scientific research leader and DG, Dr. Abdou Tenkouano of Burkina Faso.
Kudos ICIPE!
Prof. Kym Anderson, the Chair of the Governing Council (GC) painted a promising future for this festival. That was just the beginning, he said. Next year it would be bigger, with more content and they intend to unveil a plan to ensure the legacy of the founder is well established for future generations to learn of, and be motivated by.
I am suggesting to the GC and the DG that they need to consider publishing a book on TRO and the remarkable origins of the ICIPE experiment and how it has changed the lives of the resource limited people of the African pan-tropical world.
That was the dream of Odhiambo.
Professor Mutuku Mutinga, a pioneer scientist at ICIPE, once told me: “Africa teaches its youth through storytelling”.
So, Lets then tell that story.