This archive report was first published on 17 August 2021.
Professor Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the United States International University (USIU), has left an indelible mark on the institution through his dedication to enhancing its learning and research capacities.
On August 17, 2021, Professor Zeleza donated his personal academic library, valued at Ksh100 million (approximately US$1 million), to his former students during a ceremony at the institution.
The library, which features over 10,000 textbooks, is a culmination of Professor Zeleza's experience teaching in universities across the Caribbean, Kenya, Canada, and the United States.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, attended by Former Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga and other dignitaries, Professor Zeleza expressed his lifelong passion for promoting African knowledge production and cultivating the culture of philanthropy in African universities.
"Donating these books to USIU-Africa represents my dedication to enhancing the university's learning and research capacities. More broadly, it reflects my lifelong passion for promoting African knowledge production and cultivating the culture of philanthropy in African universities," Professor Zeleza stated.
Former Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga praised Professor Zeleza for his role in cultivating knowledge production and leaving an indelible mark on the institution.
"The books donated here today are a representation of Professor Zeleza's lifelong passion for promoting African knowledge production and cultivating the culture of philanthropy in African universities. The pride of any university lies in its ability to engage in cutting-edge research, and USIU-Africa has remained committed to this cause in its years of operation," Dr. Mutunga stated.
Professor Zeleza's scholarly work has crossed traditional boundaries, ranging from economic and intellectual history to human rights, gender studies, and diaspora studies. He has published over 300 journal articles, book chapters, reviews, short stories, and online essays and authored or edited 27 books, several of which have won international awards.
