By Valentine Oforo, Dodoma
THE US Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr. Michael Anthony Battle has said his government will continue strengthening working ties with the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) as a way to supplement efforts by the government of Tanzania on poverty eradication.
He expressed delight on the professional manner to which the varsity has been succeeding to host key programs being hatched by the USA Embassy for imparting the students with useful skills on entrepreneurship and innovations.
“USA and Tanzania have so far carved a long history of relationships and success in many facets, including in education areas,” he said.
Ambassador Battle made the courageous remarks when paid a special tour at the varsity in Dodoma Capital City.
The USA Embassy, and the Dodoma-based Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) have maintained a fruitful working relationship for seven consecutive years now, the laudable record which has so far sparked remarkable results.
“I have been far impressed after realising that you always stood professional, and very committed to ensure the project that the US Embassy is introducing at your college fetches good results, especially that of Academy For Women In Entrepreneurship (AWE),” he sounded.
He added: ” I am here for encouraging and assuring you that we, at the Embassy will continue working with you in the implement more key programs,”
During his “one -hour tour, Ambassador Battle, apart from holding a potential ‘closed- door’ session with the IRDP’s top leaders, he also managed some minutes to visit the varsity’s library, as well as one among the training theatre.
Chad Morris, Cultural Affairs Officer, Public Affairs Section at the US Embassy expressed that they’re very happy to work with IRDP.
“We at the Embassy are very proud for the relationship we have build with IRDP over the last seven years,”
“IRDP very graciously hosted our academy for women entrepreneurship program here, the key program which has been designed to train local women on entrepreneurship and business development and planning. The program managed to fetch fruitful outcomes,” Morris explained.
Morris added that the US Embassy was looking at further ways to develop and implement more useful programs at the state-owned varsity, especially the program that focuses to empower the youth.
“With this Institute, we are envisioning to roll out more and more programs to train the next generation of developing leaders, as well as other key experts in different areas,” he assured.
Expressing his delight over the event, IRDP’s Rector, Professor Hozen Mayaya said the development signaled a good omen of positive future relationships between the institute and the USA Embassy.
“Our working relationship with the esteemed Embassy of USA rooted at least seven years elapsed, and through this long-way of cooperation we have seen and attained an array of successes,” the IRDP Chief boss appreciated.
And the Don bragged that, the seven years of cooperation saw implementation of the vital program, christened ‘Academy For Women In Entrepreneurship (AWE), as well as hatching of Mipango Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) Centre.
Giving further details over the visit, Prof Mayaya unveiled that they had fruitful conversations with Ambassador Battle, all focusing on improving working cooperation between the two parties.
“We delved on possible ways through which they, the USA Embassy, can link our library with the cloud- connected one from American universities,” he briefed.
On his side, Professor Providen Dimoso, the Institute’s Deputy Rector, Academics, Research and Consultancy, Prof. Provident Dimoso informed that, through the relationship, IRDP has been exposed to a number of potential USA -based universities, the development which has placed the fast-growing varsity at a professional side to acquire latest technologies from the overseas ones.
Freeman Poritz, the English Language Fellow at the IRDP expressed happiness to be part of the varsity.
The English Language Fellow Program is sponsored by the USA Embassy, focusing to help impart the IRDP leadership, workers at all faculties and the students with high English language skills.
