Visionary and Innovative Leadership – Integrity and Dedication - Excellent Management Skills and Experience – Transparency – Efficiency - High Impact Quality Delivery
Prof Dr Sospeter Muhongo, a distinguished scholar, chartered geologist, Nominated Member of Parliament is the Immediate Past Minister of Energy and Minerals of the Republic of Tanzania. He is Officier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques (an academic decoration founded by Emperor Napoléon, 1808) and is the first recipient (2004) of the Geological Society of Africa's prestigious Prof Robert Shackleton (UK) Award for Outstanding Research on the Precambrian Geology of Africa.
In recognition of his world-class distinguished contribution to earth sciences and to the prosperity of the global society, Prof Muhongo has been elected to numerous learned Professional Fellowships including: An Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of London (est. 1807), Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America (est. 1888) and an Honorary Research Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (est. 1956).
He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (FTWAS), a Fellow of the Geological Society of Africa (FGSAf), a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS) and a Fellow of the Tanzania Academy of Sciences (FTAAS). He is the Immediate Past Vice President of the Commission of the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) and also an Immediate Past Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African Earth Sciences (Elsevier). Prof Muhongo is the 2014 winner of the prestigious Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS)/AMNI Petroleum Award of Prof M.O. Oyawaye.
Prof Muhongo championed the innovative and sustainable reform (April 2012-Jan 2015, Minister of Energy and Minerals) of the energy and mineral sectors of Tanzania bringing about new policy and legal documents, increased well-trained human resource in the country's oil and gas industry, predictable power supply, accelerated rural electrification campaign, increased revenue to the Central and Local Governments, technologically-supported small scale-mining, new investments, and a sound annual economic growth.
He is Full Professor (retired) of Geology at the University of Dar Es Salaam and an Honorary Professor of Geology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is a member of several editorial boards of science journals and bulletins.
Prof Muhongo and his research colleagues have published maps based on modern geological concepts and knowledge: Geology and Major Ore Deposits of Africa, Geology and Gemstones Deposits of East Africa and Geology and Mineral Map of Tanzania. These maps are widely used to promote new investments in the Africa's mineral sector. He is the Senior Editor of the book (2009) on, "Science, Technology and Innovation for Socio-Economic Development: Success Stories from Africa."
Prof Muhongo was the President of the Geological Society of Africa (1995-2001). He was the founding Regional Director (2005-2010) of the ICSU Regional Office for Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. He was the Chairperson of the UNESCO-IUGS-IGCP Scientific Board of International Geoscience Programme (2004-2008), and the Chair (2007-2010) of Science Programme Committee (SPC) of the UN-proclaimed International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). Prof Muhongo was nominated by his country to be a candidate (2009) for the post of the Director General of UNESCO.
He was the Chairman (1999-2005) of the Board of Directors of the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), Tanzania; and was the Head (1997-2000) of the Department of Geology, University of Dar Es Salaam. Prof Muhongo was the Chairman (2002) of the Tanzania Government's Commission of Inquiry on the deadliest Merelani tanzanite mine's accident.
Prof Muhongo has published over 200 well acknowledged research articles. He has delivered more than 500 invited keynote speeches at both national and international conferences. Over the past two decades, Prof. Muhongo has co-organized over 100 expert group meetings and international earth sciences, STI and science policy conferences, including those on "Science with Africa (Rapporteur-General)" which are hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and their partners.
Prof Muhongo is a recipient of numerous scholarly and professional awards, recognitions, grants, and fellowships. He studied geology at the Universities of Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) and Gӧttingen (Germany). He graduated with Dr.rer.nat. degree from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Prof Muhongo is fluent in Kiswahili, English, German and French (basic).
05 February 2015
FGSAf, FAAS, FASI, FASSAf, FGIGE, FTWAS, HonFCAGS, HonFGSA, HonFGS, CGeol, EurGeol