I am an East African student currently studying abroad and I was wondering how I could get in touch with Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. the professor at a school in the US regarding his comments on the above article posted on the 18th of April 2005.

I would personally like to disagree with some of what he is saying. For one, I would like to let him know that the government, the Kenyan government in particular offers scholarships to people studying abroad (I was a recipient of a scholarship offered by the Ministry of Education) and he should check out his facts in that regard especially since one of the people who was interviewed by BBC for the article, Professor Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha (yes he is my dad!! very proud of him) is heading an East African Community organization that works with Ford Foundation in offering scholarships to East African students who are going for their doctorate and masters abroad.

Every academic year, there are 15 recipients of the scholarship, 5 from each of the East African countries and I feel that if it was not for the guidance of this council, most of these students might not have had the said scholarships. And yes, most African professors got their doctorates abroad which I do not think is a bad thing.

I think it prepares them to be better leaders since being in a different country, they learn to appreciate how things are done differently. I know the pay in universities in Africa is not that much, but if somebody is really passionate about teaching, especially giving back to his/her country, they would find a way to go back home and help build Africa.

We are trying to become a developed continent, how can we do that if we do not have the best people to spearhead the changes? Sincerely, Bhoke Chacha Graduate Student Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA