MMUST Engages Education and Labour Stakeholders on the Future of Work as It Participates in the 28th Nairobi International Education Fair and 1st Workskills Conference
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has joined education and labour stakeholders to discuss and reflect on the evolving world of work, as well as the critical pathways that will prepare young people and professionals to thrive in it. The discussions took place during the 28th Nairobi International Education Fair and 1st WorkSkills Conference, which ran from 20th to 22nd February, 2026 at the Sarit Expo Centre, Westlands-Nairobi. The 3-day event, themed ‘Aligning Skills with Industry Needs: The Key to Tackling Youth Unemployment’, brought together leaders from the industry, academia, Government, civil society, and the private sector. The MMUST delegates who participated in the exhibition were led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs), Prof. Hussein Golicha.
The international Fair and inaugural Conference was organized by Express Communications Ltd (ECL), in conjunction with other partners, including the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs), Prof. Hussein Golicha, speaks to potential clients at the event.
“Participation in such activities provides us with the opportunity to not only engage with prospective clients, but also to learn what other institutions are doing. As one of the few public Universities exhibiting among international organizations, we are able to benchmark our programmes against global standards, while at the same time showcasing our unique strengths,” said Prof. Golicha during an interview with DCCM at the exhibition.
Speaking to DCCM at Sarit, the Registrar (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Judah Ndiku, pointed out that the theme of the event, which was focused on bridging the gap between education and industry, resonated with the University’s commitment to aligning its academic programmes with the needs of the job market. “By aligning our programmes to the industry, we enhance the competitiveness of our students as they transition into the world of work. I am also happy to note that we are actively preparing for the CBE transition in 2029, having rolled out the review of our curricula with guidance from the Commission for University Education,” stated Prof. Ndiku.
The Registrar (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Judah Ndiku speaks at the event.
In his remarks, the Director of Career Services-Prof. Robert Egessa, reiterated the importance of aligning academic programmes to the skills needed in the industry. “Institutions of higher learning play a critical role in supplying the market with a mass of labour, and therefore should ensure that they are releasing competent graduates equipped with relevant skills to meet the evolving demands of the workforce,” echoed Prof. Egessa. Commenting on the Fair, the Director of Career Services said that MMUST utilizes such events to engage with the public and provide career guidance to young people. He added, “the University has witnessed a positive trajectory in terms of student enrolment, courtesy of our unique programmes and participation in marketing activities.”
Other MMUST staff present during the 28th Nairobi International Education Fair and 1st WorkSkills Conference were; Dr. Lydia Anyonje (Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing), Mr. Christopher Wafula Noah (Senior Assistant Registrar-Admissions), Mr. James Muriithi (Marketing Officer), Ms. Jocelyne Mukwa (Administrator-Office of the DVC Academic and Student Affairs), Mr. Daudi Kioko (Customer Care Assistant) and Ms. Terry Wanjau (Customer Care Assistant).
High School students visit the MMUST booth at the Sarit exhibition.
The event was marked with panel discussions and keynote addresses from various individuals in the industry. The highlight of the Fair was the launch of the ‘Guide to the World of Work & Entrepreneurship’, a resource developed to support informed decision-making, career exploration and structured pathways for young people navigating education-to-employment transitions.
MMUST’s participation in this exhibition and conference reaffirmed its commitment to aligning its academic programmes to the industry needs. The University continues to bridge the gap between academia and the industry, ensuring that its graduates are not only academically sound, but also globally competitive and ready to tackle modern industrial challenges.
By Wangari Wambugu
