UoA maps role of varsities in ending poverty
UNIVERSITIES must lead efforts to end poverty through fundamental transformation of current education systems, says University of Africa (UoA) Chancellor Dr Ruth Mubanga.
Dr Mubanga decried the irony that Africa, including Zambia remained poor despite being richly endowed with natural resources.
“The success of our universities must be measured by our ability to produce graduates who can reverse the galling irony. In our case, our commitment is to aggressively push our stated in motto of ‘empowerment towards development’ in a meaning and tangible manner.” Speaking at the 5th graduation ceremony of the university recently in Lusaka Dr Mubanga challenged graduates living in an era where ‘amazing’ technology was at their disposal to create a new world no other generation could do.
“We are living in the most powerful era of human history. With technology, traditional paths to development are a thing of the past. Therefore, I’m urging you to go ahead, and create a world which will be different, and much better
“The transformation must cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship among graduates who are able to work in conditions where they will be required to create jobs rather than look for employment. Getting this right will lift millions of people out of poverty,” Dr Mubanga told the 5th graduation ceremony of the university.
The occasion also marked the 10th anniversary of the university, and for the first time it conferred Doctors of Philosophy Degrees (PhDs).while another 900 attained Masters and Bachelors’ degrees and diplomas. Dr Mubanga was conferred with an honorary PhD for, making history as the first female to be appointed chancellor in Zambia.
The graduation theme was “Celebrating University of Africa as a talent and knowledge nexus for Africa’s advancement in the next decade.”
And President of Private Universities in Zambia (PUZ), Professor Patrick Kalifungwa said public universities alone could not fill the needs of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP).
“Private universities cannot and should never be ignored or left out of the development process of our education and much more the economy of Zambia,” Kalifungwa said.
He said Vision 2030 as defined in the current national development plan could only be attained when graduates translated its four pillars – diversified and sustainable growth; poverty reduction; improved human capital and improved governance.
“The dismal figure of only five out of every 100 Zambians having tertiary education must prompt universities to cast a wider net in pulling in bigger numbers without compromising quality.”
Vice Chancellor Dr Tobias Doyer said the university higher had an important role to play as a talent and knowledge nexus as Africa strived to build more resilient economies using the creative and innovative capacities. “This augurs well to position Zambia optimally for the next economic growth opportunity, especially in agriculture and industrial sectors,” he said.