Kakamega: Vihiga County governor Dr Wilber Otichillo has called on the Commission for University Education (CUE) and Kenyan universities to integrate climate change studies into their academic curriculum. Speaking during a town hall meeting at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Dr Otichillo emphasised the need to empower young people with knowledge and skills to address the growing threat of climate change.
According to Kenya News Agency, the governor noted that universities have a critical role to play in shaping sustainable solutions through education and research. He stressed the importance of understanding environmental conservation, sustainability, and the dynamics of carbon markets among the youth to make meaningful progress in climate action.
Dr Otichillo called for the inclusion of topics such as tree planting, environmental conservation, and carbon trading within university programmes, saying this would help nurture a generation committed to protecting the planet. He commended Kaimosi Friends University for its ongoing efforts in environmental conservation and pledged his government's support towards strengthening such initiatives.
He further stressed the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and government agencies in advancing climate action while safeguarding the environment for future generations.