DEAN’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO FRESHMEN – FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE 2025/2026
Held on August 20, 2025 at 8.4.4
• Our dear Students/Freshmen
• Distinguished Faculty Members
• Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning.
It gives me great delight to join the entire Faculty in welcoming our new students. I applaud your stellar performance that enabled you to secure a place in this prestigious institution – the University of Nairobi, and more specifically, the Faculty of Agriculture.
You have been admitted into highly competitive degree programmes that underscore the critical role played by agriculture in our country, our region, Africa, and the world at large. Agriculture remains central to achieving Kenya Vision 2030, the Big Four Agenda, the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger.
Our staff and students are at the forefront of generating knowledge and disseminating agricultural technologies and practices that:
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Enhance agricultural productivity and food security
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Spur agriculture-based manufacturing and industrialization
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Strengthen agricultural value chains and businesses
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Enhance adaptation and resilience to climate change
These successes have been born of a strong culture of excellence. Always remember our university motto:
“A World-Class University Committed to Scholarly Excellence.”
And our faculty’s own guiding vision:
“A globally competitive faculty spearheading agricultural transformation for a sustainable and equitable society.”
I implore you to embrace this prevailing culture of excellence from day one. Focus on the bigger picture – your reason for being here. Our great staff, alumni, and the eminent professors you will meet were once just like you – freshmen with dreams. You can rise just like they did. What matters is that you walk the path set by our core values:
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Excellence
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Professionalism
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Care
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Freedom of Thought and Expression
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Integrity
If you live by these values, I assure you that you will soon join our growing alumni community and become part of the team transforming agriculture in Kenya and beyond. You will contribute meaningfully to our country’s food and nutritional security and economic development.
I must also urge you to avoid behaviors that will derail you from this noble journey.
Please observe basic university expectations, including:
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Attending classes faithfully
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Paying fees and registering for courses on time
Above all, be a disciplined student. Do not limit your potential.
The Good Book in Luke 5:1–7 records Jesus’ encounter with fishermen who had toiled all night without a catch. He urged them to lower their nets into the deep. Though discouraged, Simon obeyed – and the resulting catch was overwhelming.
Dear students, like Simon, I urge you to obey instructions and dive deep into your academics. If you do, I promise – you too will dine with kings and queens.
Your time here is limited – do not waste it. Remember:
“Winners quit when they have won.”
Be a winner.
In Hosea 4:6, Scripture reminds us:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”
Therefore, use this golden opportunity to pursue knowledge with passion and purpose. As our university anthem proclaims:
“Let us labour together in search of knowledge and truth.”
Because in the end:
“Knowledge shall surely set us free.”
PROF. MOSES NYANGITO
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture
University of Nairobi
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