Midrand, 19 October, 2010 – The NEPAD Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of South Africa (UNISA) on Monday the 18th October 2010.

The signing ceremony took place at the NEPAD Agency offices in Midrand, South Africa. The MoU was signed by Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency and Prof. Mandla Makhanya, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UNISA.

"Given the high capability of your institution and the knowledge in which you are working, it will be instrumental for us to cooperate in key areas such as the implementation of the APRM's National Programmes of Action" said Dr. Mayaki at the signing of the MoU.

The MoU aims to support the implementation of joint efforts between the NEPAD Agency and UNISA's Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) on some of the following issues: Capacity development, support for the implementation of APRM's national programmes of action, leadership transformation in Africa and research, analysis and policy recommendations.

According to Dr. Mayaki, the MoU will help to improve the work of the NEPAD Agency in terms of strengthening the capacities of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the implementation of their programmes.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU Prof. Makhanya said: "It became very clear to all of us that we need to work very closely with the NEPAD office because the demands that the Business School of Leadership is handling are so huge. We felt very strongly that in order for us to have the kind of legitimacy in interactions with all our counterparts on the continent particularly those that are interested in having a relationship with the University, it will be necessary for us to go through the NEPAD Agency".

For more information contact:

Dr. Andrew Kanyegirire: (w) +27 11 256 3616 / +27 (0) 83 704 4506 Email: andrewk@nepad.org