SPOTLIGHT STORY: Why CBU & UNILUS Chose HEA’s Climate Exhibit
At this year’s Agriculture and Commercial Show, Professor Gillian Kabwe from the Copperbelt University (CBU) and Mrs. Eva Kangwa from the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) chose to exhibit under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for one reason, their Higher Education Institutions share HEA’s bold vision for climate-resilient education.
“Our work must not end in lecture halls, it must reach communities, policies, and the environment itself,” said Prof. Kabwe, whose work in agroforestry and food systems is firmly rooted in applied climate adaptation.
The two academics brought more than just institutional banners, they brought real stories, real research, and real students, all embodying HEA’s theme, “Adapting to Climate Change through Higher Education.”
Mrs. Kangwa didn’t just show up, she brought along Ms. Chinyama Mulako, a 4th year Public Health student at UNILUS, giving her a rare experiential learning opportunity at a national-level event.
“We talk about climate change in class, but now I’ve seen how it connects to health, waste, and even education policy,” said Ms. Mulako, after engaging visitors at the stand.
The partnership exemplifies how academic theory can be transformed into public education, outreach, and civic engagement, a cornerstone of HEA’s message at the 2024 Show.
Prof. Kabwe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at CBU’s School of Natural Resources, where she lectures in forestry, agroforestry, sociology, and extension.
Her background includes significant experience with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the Zambia Forestry College, which has shaped her interdisciplinary approach to research, particularly on climate-resilient agriculture, energy poverty, forestry landscape approaches and value chain innovation.
Within CBU, Prof. Kabwe has held key roles including Head of Department and Director of External Relations, and continues to influence both academic research and real-world applications.
Explore Prof. Kabwe’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=JZiqmxQAAAAJ.
As Head of the Department of Public Health at UNILUS’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mrs. Kangwa is known for integrating environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, and public health into Zambia’s academic landscape.
Her leadership has included embedding climate resilience into the Public Health curriculum, and leading community engagement campaigns, including a clean-up and water sanitation drive in Chainda compound.
She has further represented UNILUS at national and international forums, including working with the Science and Technology Policy Institute (South Korea) and Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science on a National Innovation System (NIS) Policy Framework.
Her mission is clear and that is to empower students, influence national policy, and drive sustainable transformation through education.
“When academia meets advocacy, students don’t just graduate, they lead,” she said at the HEA stand.
Together, CBU and UNILUS have proven that climate innovation is alive and growing in Zambia’s higher education sector. Their decision to exhibit under HEA wasn’t symbolic, it was strategic, and deeply aligned with a future where education becomes the engine for climate adaptation.
“The best way to adapt to climate change is to prepare the minds that will shape the future, and that’s what higher education is doing,” concluded Mr. Birbal Boniface Musoba, HEA Corporate Communications Officer
Visit HEA’s stand is located at F7, near ZNBC and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
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