On February 17, 2024, Vitalis Obonyo received the Award for Excellence in Student Leadership at the global convocation ceremony. He was recognized for his leadership efforts during his time as a Master of Education student at AKU's Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (IED EA) in Dar es Salaam.
“I created and implemented the idea of a Cultural Day to bring together students from diverse cultural backgrounds and showcase our unique cultures through food, clothing, music and dance. Due to the success and impact of this event, the Registrar's Office made it an annual event which was truly gratifying."
Vitalis also worked towards recognition of a Student Welfare Office to ensure representation of students from different countries at IED EA. The Welfare Office was established to support students financially and emotionally in times of difficulty such as benevolence, long illness or happy moments such as weddings and childbirth.
“Most students were far from home so we wanted to create an environment that would make them feel like they have a family even though they are miles away from home. This office worked but it is yet to be fully incorporated into the student leadership structure at the Dar es Salaam campus."
This seemed enough tasks to take on but not for Vitalis. He took initiative to organize educational trips for students, exposing them to Tanzania's rich cultural and historical heritage. One significant trip was to the Museum of Tanzania where 36 students participated in 'Zinj Day' – a one-day symposium to celebrate 63 years since the discovery of the Zinjanthropus skull in Olduvai Gorge.
“I also created an intellectual space where students could share their research findings and engage in discussions. This led to the introduction of Makerspace Talks on campus, structured as a research seminar series. The success of this initiative led to its incorporation as a crucial component of the Master of Education degree programme."
Vitalis is not your ordinary student – he has a doctorate in Strategic Management. He thought he had reached the top in terms of education milestones, until he was introduced to AKU's Master of Education programme. He now aspires to make a change in his community, the same he way he impacted the IED EA student body.
“My academic journey at AKU has empowered me with a transformative experience, and I am committed to being a change agent. I have already incorporated makerspace concepts in my school, turning traditionally theoretical subjects into practical experiences despite resource constraints. The positive response from my students attests to the impact of AKU-IED, EA's innovative approach to education."
