Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) held its first Botswana campus graduation ceremony on March 27, three years after its official opening in the country.

A total of 959 students graduated with Bachelors and Associates Degrees from various courses during a colourful ceremony graced by former president Dr Festus Mogae.

In his keynote address, Dr Mogae said the growth of the university in the past three years has opened opportunities for thousands of young people leaving secondary schools every year.

“The university has absorbed many of these young people and equipped them with necessary skills and knowledge for them to contribute to national development and also survive as individuals in this competitive world,” he said.
He referred to the graduation as the fruits of a deliberate Government policy of encouraging private sector involvement in providing tertiary education.
When delivering his speech, Limkokwing founder president Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Limkokwing recalled some of the words he said when he first stood before the students months after the university opened in 2007.
This is what he said then, “Today I speak for the very first time before you as you begin your journey with us. Three years from now, God willing, I shall be standing in front of you again to speak for the last time before you take leave of us on your graduation day.”
Dr Limkokwing could not hide his happiness at seeing the students graduate exactly 36 months later. “Today, three years later, you shine before my eyes in this hall as the new gems of Botswana,” he said. He said that they join thousands of other graduants who are making important contributions to the country and other places around the world.
A total of 21 students were awarded the President’s Award for Excellence by Dr Limkokwing for their outstanding academic abilities. The 21 were offered a special scholarship of over P1 million to continue their studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The graduation was attended by among others, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Botswana Mr Kennedy Jawan, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development Mr Baeti Molake and members of the diplomatic corps.