KENYA: Apostolic Nuncio Donates Books to Catholic University
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Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Hubertus van Megen on Friday, October 2, donated a collection of books to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), an institute founded by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
“The Nuncio donated to us books for different academic disciplines that are relevant to various areas of Theology as Canon law, Civil law, International relations, Economics, Educations, Liturgy, and Environment among others,” Vice-Chancellor (VC) of CUEA Very Rev. Prof. Stephen Mbugua Ngari told AMECEA online in an interview Thursday, October 8.
“These books will be helpful to our students for research and also as reading materials for knowledge since they have contemporary and historical issues,” the VC added explained.
According to Fr. Mbugua, the Pope’s representative who has a lot of interest in quality education has been supportive of the transformation plan of the University such that he has donated hundreds of books to support the institution, more especially the disciplines that are taught in CUEA.
“We are grateful to the Pope’s representative in Kenya for extending this kind gesture to the University and we thank the Vatican through his diplomat of their concern about the Catholic education and the Catholic identity,” the Vice Chancellor who is also Rector of CUEA stated and continued, “Since the Nuncio represents the Holy Father, so his gesture by extension is the gesture of the Universal Church and we are happy for the concern.”
Besides the donation of books which the school has received, the VC disclosed during the Thursday interview, “We have also received some cash donations for digitization to assist in learning and also donations in the areas of marketing and transformation initiative and we have already established a digital committee that is spearheading the digitalization of these programs in the University.”
Meanwhile the University which commenced in-person learning on Thursday, October 8, after the government of Kenya announced a phased re-opening for Universities and colleges which have been closed since mid-March over COVID-19, invited the Ministry of Health to sensitize the students and staff on the ministries protocols and provide psycho-social and spiritual support session.
The ministry of Health is encouraging observation of high standard of hygiene, disinfection of all surfaces within the university, monitoring of students and staff temperatures and providing an isolation room within the institute for use in case of need.
