Grammy-Winning Producer Commissioner Gordon Partners with MUST to Propel Africa’s Orange Economy

Commissioner Gordon Williams, a US based music composer, producer and 7 times Grammy award winner visited Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) as part of a collaboration with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Commissioner Gordon Williams

The renowned producer is working with the UNCDF and the University to help uplift the creative economy also known as the Orange economy in Kenya and other parts of Africa. This economy includes: audio-visual, multimedia and photography; crafts and design goods; books and publishing; music, performing and visual arts; architecture; software, video games and recorded media; and cultural and natural heritage plus gastronomy which is food related. Meru University of Science and Technology is represented in this project by Dr. Zack Chiliswa, the International Liaison Director of the University, and Dr. Beatrice Owiti the Chair of the Information and Media Studies Department. Commissioner Gordon met students from various schools of the University and held a talk about business and the creative arts. The sessions were very interesting with various students showcasing their compositions which included: modern rap, love songs, comedies, music production, dance videos and music videos. Students were drawn from all the eight (8) Schools of the University.

Commissioner Gordon with students from various schools of the University and held a talk about business and the creative arts

Commissioner Gordon also met the University Management Board led by the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Eustace Mwenda, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Administration, Finance and Planning Prof. Charity Gichuki and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Academic and Student Affairs Prof. Simon Thuranira. Commissioner Gordon given a tour of the university and shown the land where the University will put up the centre of excellence for the creative economy.

Delegation with Dr. Peter Ndegwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom

The weeklong visit ended with a meeting at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports where the delegation including MUST Officials led by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Romanus Odhiambo and the Commissioner met with the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen. He assured the delegates that the project will have the blessing and support of the government. The final stop was at the Safaricom headquarters where the delegation also met Dr. Peter Ndegwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom who is also the Chancellor of the University. Here also the CEO promised support for the creative economy and appointed a technical team to work with the university to ensure the success of this initiative.

Meeting at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports
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