The Ifakara Health Institute sends heartfelt Nyerere Day greetings to all its staff, collaborators, partners, and Tanzanians both at home and abroad. We wish you a day of reflection and inspiration as we celebrate the life of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who was the first Prime Minister of independent Tanganyika (1961) and first President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

This day is significant in Tanzania as it honors the life and legacy of a leader who played a crucial role in shaping the country’s cultural identity. Nyerere encouraged the adoption of Swahili as a common language, which has greatly facilitated communication and helped Tanzanians identify themselves as one people.

Ifakara’s history with President Nyerere

Ifakara's relationship with Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere, dates back to the late 1950s, when discussions with Rudolf Geigy, Ifakara’s founder, laid the groundwork for the creation of the Rural Aid Centre to train medical officers for rural areas.

Rudolf Geigy, founding director of the Swiss Tropical Institute, first visited Ifakara in 1949 to conduct fieldwork on tropical diseases. His work in the malaria-ridden Kilombero Valley established strong ties with the local community, and he became known as “Bwana Ngiri” (Mr. Warthog). 

In the late 1950s, Geigy met with Julius Nyerere, who later became Tanzania's first president, to discuss the future of the Ifakara laboratory. Nyerere requested assistance in training medical officers to serve the country's rural areas. This led to the creation of the Rural Aid Centre in 1961, coinciding with Tanzania's independence. 

Over the years, Ifakara evolved from a European field station into a Tanzanian center of excellence, symbolizing North-South cooperation in science. The successful transition was driven by the vision and collaboration between Geigy, Nyerere, and Tanzanian leadership.

Learn more about Mwalimu Julius Nyerere here