Incessant growth is one aspect that the SPU community boasts of. Since the award of the Charter in 2007, the university has exhibited tremendous growth exemplified by execution of substantial projects year in,
year out. On Saturday 18th March 2023, the University Council Chairman - His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, in line with the university’s tradition, led the University Council, Board of Management, Senate, staff and student leaders in commissioning four facilities at the main campus: the Virtual Campus, new computer lab, generator and website. The day began on a high note with a brief fellowship led by the Vice Chancellor, Rev. Canon Prof. James Kombo; assisted by Rev. Samuel Githinji, the University Chaplain. Thereafter, Mr. Michael Mungai, the Deputy Corporate Affairs Manager led the entourage for a tour of the four facilities, coupled with unveiling of their respective plaques and commissioning.
“I commission these Multimedia facilities in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.” With these words, The Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit commissioned the Virtual Campus. The ultra-modern facility hosts an e-compliant boardroom, a fully equipped multimedia center, remote teaching and learning center, post-production lab, and offices for the Directorate’s staff. These facilities complement the robust eLearning portals that make virtual learning a reality by enabling seamless delivery of lectures, dissemination of learning material, student assessment and real-time student-staff interactions. To improve learners’ experience and retention of content, the multimedia and remote learning centers are equipped with requisite equipment to enable faculty to convert teaching material from common PowerPoint presentations, Microsoft Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) documents, to an audio-visual format. In addition, the post-production lab is well equipped to facilitate editing of the material produced at the centers and deployment of the same on the university’s eLearning platforms. Commissioning was succeeded by a tour of the facility led by Mrs. Grace Kinyanjui, the Virtual Campus Director.
The entourage then proceeded to the new computer lab. The multi-million facility could easily pass for Kenya’s Silicon Valley! Flat screen 21.5-inch, Core i7 Desktop Computers, Core i7 Laptop Computers with solid-state drive (SSD) storage, 5G internet connectivity, data storage both on physical servers and the cloud, uninterrupted comprehensive power backup system, 24-hour CCTV surveillance, not to mention ergonomic seats and a lounge to unwind after a real grind, welcomed the entourage. “I commission this Computer Lab in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” Mr. George Mugambi, a member of the University Council commissioned the lab. Thereafter, the team led by Dr. Evanson Karanja – the ICT Director and Mr. Kennedy Waweru - the Dean of the School of Communication and Computer Studies, toured the facility and tested the new equipment.
For consistent power supply, efficient contingency management, hence business continuity, the university acquired a new generator. The team was introduced to the facility by Mr. James Mururi, the Registrar Administration and Rev. Truphosa Kwaka-Sumba, the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration. “I commission this Generator in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” said The Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui after he unveiled the plaque. The power house attendants then demonstrated the generator’s key functionalities.
The tour of new facilities was concluded at the Central Administration Building, for the commissioning of the new website. During this session, appreciation of technology by the university would not go unnoticed. As opposed to unveiling of a physical plaque, the website developers mounted a virtual plaque over the website, embedded with calls to action to unveil the plaque and view the new website. “I commission this new website in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen”, said Mr. Livingstone Murage a Council member who as wowed by the invention. Mr. Michael Mungai highlighted the key functional areas on the website and took the audience through the it. The audience was wowed by the functional areas, attention to detail and authenticity.
The University Council Chairman reiterated this in his words,” What I have seen today, I can only say wow!” He concluded the events in dedication and prayer for the new facilities in these words “O God, we thank you for your blessings through which we have received these facilities. Give us grateful hearts for what is now accomplished. We thank you for many who will use these facilities. Grant them the joy of receiving your manifold blessings and let them testify of the fruit of their labour. We now dedicate the Multimedia facilities, the Computer Lab, the New Generator and the University Website, for your glory, in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.” Commissioning of the facilities is part of the series of events scheduled to take place as the SPU community commemorates 120 years of service to God and humanity.