Jimma, Ethiopia
The Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) has reinforced its continental mobilization strategy under the FISU Healthy Campus Africa Drive, following a high-level presentation delivered during the Sports Conference held alongside the Ethiopian University Sports Festival at Jimma University.
The presentation was delivered by Mrs. Peninnah Kabenge Aligawesa (Uganda), FISU Vice President and FASU Secretary General, representing the FISU President, Mr. Leonz Eder.
Importantly, the session was conducted before the leadership of the 47 Ethiopian universities participating in the Festival, including University Presidents, Deans of Students, Directors of Sports, and members of the Executive Committee of the Ethiopian University Sports Association. The engagement of institutional decision-makers provided a strategic platform to accelerate Africa’s participation in the Healthy Campus programme.
Driving Continental Mobilization
In her address, Mrs. Kabenge positioned Ethiopia’s engagement within the broader framework of the FISU Healthy Campus Africa Drive, a FASU-led initiative aimed at scaling up African participation in the global Healthy Campus ecosystem.
Under this initiative, FASU is actively mobilizing member federations and universities across Africa to enroll, implement, and achieve certification under the FISU Healthy Campus Programme. The strategy includes:
• Providing technical guidance and structured implementation support
• Establishing peer-learning and knowledge-sharing platforms among African universities
• Strengthening regional advocacy and leadership engagement
• Promoting policy alignment with continental and global development frameworks
The Africa Drive seeks to position African universities as proactive global contributors to student well-being, enhance institutional credibility, and consolidate Africa’s presence within the FISU Healthy Campus global framework.
Strategic Alignment and Institutional Commitment
Mrs. Kabenge emphasized that the Healthy Campus Programme aligns closely with Africa’s higher education reform priorities, including student welfare, mental health, disease prevention, gender equity, sustainability, and physical activity promotion.
She further noted that participation in Healthy Campus supports measurable contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while strengthening institutional governance through coordinated, cross-departmental approaches to health and well-being.
In her concluding remarks, she underscored that while awareness and readiness are evident across African institutions, leadership buy-in remains the decisive factor in translating commitment into structured certification and long-term impact.
The engagement in Jimma reflects FASU’s ongoing commitment to transforming university sport into a strategic vehicle for institutional development, student well-being, and continental advancement.