This translation is not completely accurate as it was automatically generated by a computer.
Powered by
By Sharai Nondo*
7:00 A.M. EDT June 16, 2011 | MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS)
Suzanne Kisimba from the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates
her graduation from Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. UMNS
photos by Sharai Nondo, Africa University.
View in Photo Gallery
Africa University this year sent 350 graduates on to their future lives with commencement speaker Arun Gandhi urging them to “transform Africa.”
The graduating class of 2011 — the 17th class of graduates for the
United Methodist-related school — included 279 bachelor’s degree and 71
master’s degree recipients from 19 African countries.
Gandhi, an author, journalist and social activist and the grandson of
Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi, urged the graduates to “use the knowledge
that (they) acquired at Africa University to transform Africa.
“Turn the knowledge that you have received at Africa University into
wisdom,” Gandhi said. “You should always be mindful of the fact that
Africa is growing and so are you, and what it will become is because of
what you will do.”
Amid the June 11 celebration, many of the graduates reflected on the
difficulties they overcame and what they plan to do with their
knowledge.
“It was only through God’s help,” said Marilyn Chimbaira, the top
female graduate in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the
top student in the graduating class.
“I had a very difficult time; my parents were struggling with the
fees, but I think this is what also motivated me to work even harder,”
said Chimbaira, who at one point received help from the university’s
financial aid program.
Bright Mutingwende, a student from the Faculty of Management and
Administration, said that he owes his success to God, his family and the
scholarship he received from the Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly Endowed Scholarship Fund.
“I am very grateful”
Marilyn Chimbaira achieved the highest grade-point average among Africa University’s class of 2011.
View in Photo Gallery
“I told my father that if I go to Africa University and produce
outstanding results, I would get a scholarship, and I did,” Mutingwende
said. “I am very grateful to my sponsors for their support.”
Both Chimbaira and Mutingwende indicated they would like to work in
Zimbabwe before enrolling in graduate studies. Zimbabwe’s economic
growth is up 8.1 percent and its inflation rate is 3.6 percent, which
prompted many of the graduates to say they would stay home to try to
contribute to the development of their nation.
Other graduates from countries such as Angola, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi
and Zambia talked about returning home to play their part in the
reconstruction of their nations.
“We are thinking of establishing an IT company, which will have bases
in Malawi and Zimbabwe,” said Jeffrey Mtini-Nkhoma, a Malawian who
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems.
The university recognized graduate Prosper Mutengo for service to the wider community.
“It’s humbling”
“It’s humbling. …I can’t believe that the little things that I was
doing on campus have led to this recognition,” said Mutengo, who was
involved in Peer Network and outreach programs in HIV/AIDS and in the
Africa University Choir.
Mutengo, who majored in environmental studies, also launched a
tree-planting project, distributing eucalyptus seedlings within the
university community and to high schools around Mutare. He plans to
expand the project to the rural areas of Zimbabwe where he sees strong
potential in eucalyptus-tree farming to improve economic prospects for
local farmers.
“I was encouraged to do what I did with the little resource I had to
make an impact,” Mutengo said. “I give credit to this institution
because of the spirituality, the work of the chaplain’s office and the
inspiration from the founders of this institution.”
In his graduation address, Fanuel Tagwira,
Africa University’s vice chancellor, recognized two pioneer groups
among the graduates. The Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources
conferred degrees on its first eight majors in Natural Resources
Management, and the Faculty of Management and Administration awarded the
postgraduate diploma in non-governmental organization management to
five candidates.
Tagwira also highlighted the continuing collaboration between Africa
University, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the African
Regional Intellectual Property Organization. This collaboration
produced the first master’s degree program in intellectual property in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Once again, Africa University alumni supported the institution with
cash prizes recognizing academic excellence among the graduates.
“We value every graduation as the making of history … and will
continue to bring our unvarying support to make and live the dream of
making Africa a better place,” said Freddy Kyoni, a member of the alumni
chapter and one of 17 Africa University graduates working at Tenke
Fungurume Mining in Katanga Province.
Africa University officially opened its doors to 40 students from six
African nations in 1992. The university has an annual full-time student
enrolment of 1,200. There are 28 African nations represented this year
in the student body. Africa University’s first graduation ceremony took
place in December 1994, and the school now has almost 4,000 alumni.
*Nondo is program assistant in the Information and Public Affairs Office at Africa University.
News media contact: Maggie Hillery, Nashville, Tenn., 615-742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Korean News
Glad you liked it. Would you like to share?
Add New Comment
Showing 0 comments