Kilifi County is set to reap big with the expected construction of Sh10 billion state-of-the-art Talent University.
The construction of the institution of higher learning will be done by investors from the World Talent Federation based in the United States of America (US) on a vast land near Mariakani town in Kaloleni sub-county.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro who spoke after a meeting with the investors in his office lauded the project, terming it a game changer with immense benefits to the communities with different talents in Kilifi County.
“One of our promises during our campaign was to tap into the diversity of talents among our people and today we have investors who have decided to tap into this sector through the construction of this university,” the Governor said.
He said that due to the magnitude of the project that will come with massive job opportunities from its construction to its completion and thereafter, the investors settled at the Mariakani land owned by Ngala Tsagwa because of its proximity to various amenities.
“We have agreed as a county to get them 300-acre land which we are discussing with the family owning it. The university will not only focus on those who finished their fourth form but on any individual with talents who will get an opportunity to learn in that institution,” he said.
The Governor said the investors had already set aside Sh10 billion with all the plans ready for takeoff.
“Once the discussion is over, then we shall inform the people of Kilifi on how job opportunities shall be created,” he added.
The Governor said that they focused on Kaloleni because of several amenities like the availability of land and the heavy power lines from KETRACO that pass through the lad towards the Lamu port, and also the nearer the palace is to the Nairobi highway and the SGR.
“But all talents in Kilifi shall be tapped and not necessarily for Kaloleni people,” he said.
The team of investors was led by Prof Humphrey Obura and Vice President of the World Talent Federation Vice-President Dr Peter Smith.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was also present during the courtesy call to the Governor.
Resemblance to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK), the Talent ‘only’ University will sit on a 300-acre land in Mariakani completely with an airstrip and five-star hotels, and according to the plan, it is going to be a city within the University.
Prof Obura who is also the secretary general of the WTF said the university is going to be the first of its kind in Africa where those selected will not only be pegged on academy qualification but also through their work experience and existing career development programs.
“The talent-only university is going to be constructed through a donation from the World Talent Federation that has donated Sh10 billion and the facility will also include an airstrip and a five-star hotel,” he said.
Prof Obura said they had come to meet the governor to facilitate the process of acquiring the land for the massive investment and how the county boss together with other leaders can work together in community sensitization and public participation in regards to the project.
“In Kilifi and Kenya in general, there are people endowed with academic qualifications but they have good talents in certain areas. Others have work experience that stretches more than ten years and above. These are the people that this institution will absorb too so that they can get their degrees and pursue their further studies,” he said.
Whereas other institutions of higher learning look for certain qualifications in secondary schools, the Talent University he said will have intake for even school dropouts who may have been occasioned by poverty but have talents in certain fields.
“Parents, children who performed well in their previous schools but could not be enrolled in universities will get a chance. Even if they were class eight dropouts or secondary dropouts if they have certain talents or work experience, which is what will be used to admit them to the institution for their degrees. Because of that system of learning, some of the degrees that usually take about three years will end up reduced to even a year,” he said.
Dr Smith said they were ready to start the project since it is the hope of every African to get education which is a great pillar for their success.
“Getting education is a prudent issue in Africa and that is why we saw the opportunity. It is because of this plan that we decided to invest in Kilifi in this project,” he said.
Mr Sonko said he saw the opportunity was fit for Kilifi and especially in Mariakani because of the availability of land. He further said that the project is going to offer job opportunities to the youth, men and women from the region.
“There is a lot of joblessness among the youths in Kilifi. So with this project coming onboard now, it is going to change the narrative since we shall have many youths getting employed in this facility once it is completed,” he said.
