University of Johannesburg (UJ) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, delivered the prestigious 7th Annual Lameck Goma Lecture in Lusaka, Zambia, on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Speaking under the theme “The Role and Place of an African University in the Intelligent Age,” Prof Mpedi argued that higher education institutions across the continent must actively shape the global digital future rather than simply adapting to Western-driven technological shifts.
Hosted by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) at the University of Zambia (UNZA), the lecture honors the legacy of Professor Lameck Goma—UNZA’s first indigenous Vice-Chancellor and former Minister of General Education.
Indigenous Knowledge as a Core AI Foundation
Introduced by Cornell University Professor of Law and SAIPAR Board Chairman Prof Muna Ndulo as a leader who exemplifies “learning while leading,” Prof Mpedi framed African indigenous knowledge systems as essential foundations for global Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Opening with the African proverb, “When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground,” Prof Mpedi highlighted the deep compatibility between modern technology and traditional wisdom:
“The challenge before higher education is not simply to respond to technological change, but to help shape a future that remains ethical, inclusive, and human-centered. This is a task for the university—and I want to suggest that it is particularly a task for the African university.”
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Address
- A Shift in Global Power: Drawing on recent discussions with World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, Prof Mpedi emphasized that Africa’s rapid demographic growth and natural resource wealth are repositioning the continent as a central hub for global innovation.
- Redefining Success Metrics: While African universities continue to rise in global rankings, Mpedi argued that metrics evaluating societal impact and sustainability—where UJ leads the continent on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings—better measure the true value of African higher education.
- Honoring Lameck Goma’s Legacy: Mpedi credited Prof Goma for declaring decades ago that African universities cannot operate as mere outposts of European templates, stressing that Pan-African self-determination over land, resources, and technology is key to UJ’s Strategic Plan 2035.
“As Goma understood, to be African and to be internationalist have never been in tension. It is in this way that we will build the kind of university the Intelligent Age actually requires.” — Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi
