Gaborone – President Fetus Mogae has been awarded a doctorate of Humanity by The Limkokwing University at its first graduation ceremony in Botswana on Saturday.

“I am both proud and humbled by the fact that, with this honorary doctorate, I am able to associate myself with a truly unique, as well as widely respected academic institution.

I am also proud of the fact that this same institution has now become an integral part of our country’s landscape,” President Mogae said in acceptance of the award.

Limkokwing’s international status, he said, is underscored by the fact that it is now operating on three continents.

Apart from Gaborone, it operates in Malaysia, Beijing, Jakarta, London and Phnom Penh.

President Mogae said much of his own personal optimism about the future of Botswana is derived from the steady progress made in rolling out educational opportunities.

Over the past decade total enrolment in public secondary schools has more than doubled from 100,262 in 1998 to 206,785 in 2007.

“As a result, we have achieved a 100 per cent transition rate from primary to junior secondary education, while 2007 transition rate from junior to senior secondary was 63 per cent.”

Given that additional centres of learning are in the pipeline, he said, Botswana can be confident of achieving a 100 per cent transition to post junior secondary education by 2015.

He said the growth of secondary has been paralleled by a rapid expansion of access to tertiary and technical education.

However he noted that sustaining a large and growing number of students dependent on public resources is a serious challenge.

“But it is a challenge we must face as the alternative is to fall behind today’s global and increasingly knowledge based economy,” he said.

The President reiterated the many advantages of increasing the placement of students in qualified local institutions including the growth and further improvement in the quality of the institutions themselves, as well as the creation of domestic employment opportunities in what is a labour intensive industry.

“Nowadays there is a general consensus that the workers who are most in demand are those who have developed an ability to be flexible, yet work as team. They should be versatile and creative, as well as disciplined and highly skilled.”

For his part Professor Limkokwing noted that Botswana is among Africa’s progressive and dynamic economies.

“We are grateful we are given the opportunity to play an active role in the building of human capital that is pivotal to industry innovation and essential for societal transformation.”

Thirty-eight graduates received their diplomas and degrees.

A spectacular graduation was held by the Limkokwing University at GICC, Gaborone on Saturday the 19th 2008.

Amongst the guests of honours were His Excellency the President of Botswana, Festus G. Mogae, Cabinet ministers in attendance were Minister of Education Jacob Nkate, Daniel Kwelagobe – Minister of Presidential Affairs, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Baledzi Gaolathe, Professor Sheilda Tlou – Minister of Health and Kgosi Seepapitso of the Bangwaketse to mention but a few, all being invited by the president of Limkokwing Professor Tan Sri Dato Dr Limkokwing, the founder and President of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. The ceremony bestowed honors on a good number of students in various disciplines in reciting their experiences as part of the Limkokwing alumni, a good testimony to what Dr Limkokwing mentioned that they equipped these young minds not only with education but also with hands on practical skills in various fields they were studying for, to enable them to transform the world- today, tomorrow and beyond.

Some are already lecturers in the institute and are said to be doing quite well. Choral music and ululations were the order of the day as their fellow colleagues chanted to congratulate those who were graduating. Inspirational music and poems were recited by students, a motivational publication written by two of the graduates was presented to His Excellency President Fetus Mogae – together with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanity which was presented by the President of Limkokwing Dr Limkokwing.

In giving his remarks His Excellency Fetus Mogae appreciated the efforts done by the University to enhance the graduates with globally competitive skills since it opened its doors to the students from Botswana and that this enhanced one of our Vision 2016 pillars of an informed and educated nation. This he observed was proven by the good number of students being awarded their Degrees which were presented by education Minister Jacob Nkate on the day.

On thanking all who attended, Dr Limkokwing highlighted that he was indeed humbled by the trust the President of Botswana, his government and Batswana showed in his institute. “This challenges us as the Limkokwing family to do more to attain all our aims since we opened our doors to our first ever campus in Botswana at the fairgrounds mall; to enrich the local students with the power to change the world as leaders of tomorrow”. Dr Limkokwing also mentioned that he was very delighted to be part of the Vision 2016 pillar of a well informed and educated nation.