The governor of one of the largest metropolitan areas in Kenya will give a presentation Monday, Nov. 4, at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, governor of Kisumu County, will speak in the ballrooms of the Memorial Student Center. The event, free and open to the public, is from 10 a.m. to noon and includes a panel discussion.
Nyong’o will discuss global perspectives in business leadership and ethics; governance and business in a developing nation; and the role of tourism in East Africa, said Scott Pierson, director of the Office of International Education, which is sponsoring the event.
Kisumu County is the third-largest metro area in Kenya, with close to one million people.
Nyong’o has held other government positions in Kenya, including in Parliament, the Senate, as minister of medical services and as minister of planning and national development. A former college professor, he has helped promote scholarly activity and democratic reforms in Kenya.
He has master’s and doctorate degrees in political science from the University of Chicago.
Along with Nyong’o, three other governors and their chiefs of staff from Kenya are scheduled to attend.
The Nyong’o name in the United States may be familiar to moviegoers. Peter’s daughter, Lupita Nyong’o, won an Academy Award in 2014 for her performance in “12 Years a Slave” and has had roles in “Star Wars” and “Black Panther.”
As part of Nyong’o’s visit, the Kenyan delegation will tour campus and Menomonie.
"This is a special opportunity to learn about Kenya and gain an enhanced understanding of business, social and economic aspects of a developing nation," said interim Chancellor Patrick Guilfoile, who will provide a welcome before the governor's address.
The visit is being coordinated by business instructor Scot Vaver, who has helped lead the Young African Leaders Initiative in the past at UW-Stout and continues to work in Africa in a consulting capacity and as a co-host of a television show, “Exploring America” with Dale Mord, a UW-Stout alumnus.
Mord also will speak at the event.
“This is an opportunity to expand our students understanding of business internationally, ensure students leave Stout with the best possible exposure to diverse perspectives and allow our community members to have an opportunity to be engaged in opportunities that expand the horizons of all our community members,” Vaver said.
UW-Stout was a host site from 2014 to 2016 for the federal Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program for President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. Young leaders from a variety of African countries came to campuses in the U.S. for academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring and networking.
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Photos
Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, governor of Kisumu County, and other officials from Kenya will visit UW-Stout Monday, Nov. 4. Nyong’o will speak as part of a public event at 10 a.m.
Scott Vaver
