# Mary Okwakol

Mary Jossy Nakhanda Okwakol (born 1951) is a Ugandan university professor, academic administrator, zoologist and community leader. She is the current chairperson of the Uganda National Examinations Board. She holds the degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Zoology, obtained in 1974, from Makerere University, the oldest university in East Africa. She also holds the degree of Master of Science (MSc), in Zoology, obtained in 1976, also from Makerere University. Her degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Zoology was also obtained from Makerere University, in 1992.

## Quotes

* Education is the key to empowerment and development. As educators, our role is not just to transmit knowledge, but to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and a sense of responsibility in our students.
** Higher institutions of learning to open after three months, The Independent (January 28, 2021)
* Strive to be purpose-driven, choose to be role models and always walk the talk so as to have idealized influences. Have genuine concern for those you lead, be innovative and challenge your followers to do likewise. It is transformational leaders who will build transformational institutions.
** Speaking on transformational leadership
* Women at all levels have the ability to care for and nurture others. Women bring commitment to teaching as well as supporting the learners, be they male or female. Furthermore, the presence of women in policy making leads to more balanced policies.
** Speaking on promoting the advancement of women in leadership and management in Higher Education
* Take good care of your health and wellbeing. The only way I manage is by doing exercise every day! It is very important that all parts of your body receive that flow of blood.
** Speaking on physical fitness in advancing career.
* I owe all that I am to my unschooled but educated parents who despite not having gone to formal school, still had the wisdom to value the education of the girl child instead of marriage, as was the case then.
** Speaking on her background
* This is a drop in the ocean when we are talking about getting more women to hold leadership positions. We still have a lot of work to do as a continent to change this.
** Pointing out that the number of women academics and higher education leaders remains low compared to the number of men. 2019
* Women in top leadership positions can inspire and mentor upcoming academics. They would also be well placed to offer advice on how to overcome challenges along the academic path. And female leaders could be in positions where they can influence policies within their institutions and at the national levels.
** Speaking on the role of women at the Forum for African Women Vice Chancellors (FAWoVC). 2019
* What good will it profit you if you get this paper while your young family crumbles?
** Remembered the advice from a friend who had to leave her young family in Nairobi to do her PhD in London. 2021
* As was the case in the 2020 examination, female candidates have proportionally (in terms of percentages) performed better than the males at all levels, and have shown a lower failure rate. Even at individual subject levels, they have shown a better performance.
** Noting the performance of the candidates in the previous examination. 2023
* Accessibility to higher education remains a big challenge particularly for students from rural Uganda.
** Speaking at the launch of the second phase of the Higher Education Access Program by the Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda and Mastercard Foundation. 2024
* The purpose of this communication is to inform you of the current position of the government and to encourage you to utilize the ODel system; all institutions that have not embraced the Odel system are encouraged to to do so.
* University leaders are well placed to address the gender gaps in science, technology and innovation. However, at present, most of them are men. Women in top leadership positions can inspire and mentor upcoming academics. They would also be well placed to offer advice on how to overcome challenges along the academic path. And female leaders could be in positions where they can influence policies within their institutions and at the national levels.
* Although the study is being conducted in three African countries, the recommendations will be applicable across the continent because the challenges are often similar.
* Universities and governments need to enact deliberate policies that favour women and girls.
* Dropping age limits for applicants would help.
* When scholarships are advertised, most of them have age limits. When a woman drops out of work to raise children and then returns, she is often … above the age limit for courses.
* There are only 40 women vice-chancellors heading up the roughly 1,500 universities across Africa.
* Initiatives such as RUFORUM’s education funding support for women in higher education have also boosted the number of women with scientific skills and qualifications.
* It is a decrease from the 2020/2021 because in 2020 2021 we will recorded 5.9%. So, it is a drop of 0.6 percent, the Ugandan ratio is far below the Sub Saharan average is 9.4% and the global average which is at 38%.
* Accessibility to higher education remains a big challenge particularly for students from rural Uganda.
* I am optimistic that Higher Education Access Program by the FAWE Uganda and Mastercard Foundation will provide an opportunity for more A-Level graduates to join higher education in Uganda.
* Institutions should consider developing approaches favouring companies to offer mentorship to students.
* Higher institutions of learning should invest in research to enable companies to offer virtual internship training to students.
* Companies should familiarize themselves with virtual systems and not give up on mentoring students since they both get a chance for someone with fresh ideas and allowing students to bring out their previous experiences.