WELCOME ADDRESS TJAMA TJIVIKUA VICE- CHANCELLOR THE SPRING GRADUATION CEREMONY 14 OCTOBER :00 SAFARI CONFERENCE CENTRE

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1 WELCOME ADDRESS BY TJAMA TJIVIKUA VICE- CHANCELLOR AT THE SPRING GRADUATION CEREMONY ON 14 OCTOBER 2016 AT 09:00 AT SAFARI CONFERENCE CENTRE 1 P a g e

2 The Chancellor, Honourable Professor Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi The Chairperson of he Council, Advocate Esi Schimming- Chase Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandjii- Murangi Ministers and Members of Parliament Members of the Council of the Namibia University of Science and Technology Distinguished Invited Guests Esteemed Academics, Scholars and Staff of the Namibia University of Science and Technology Honoured Graduates and Students of the Namibia University of Science and Technology Academics, Scholars and Staff of the Namibia University of Science and Technology Distinguished Invited Guests Media Personalities Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning to everyone! It is a great privilege and honour for me, as Vice- Chancellor, to preside over this event by welcoming you all. This is a joyous occasion that brings together 2 P age

3 the intelligentsia, families, acquaintances, strangers, the young and old, dreamers and aspirants, and current and future leaders and innovators. Graduation is indeed our largest and most important gathering that signifies human progress. In small measures, it signifies the evolution of the individual from a state of obscurity to the world stage. And so let me congratulate today s graduates and celebrate their success stories. Let us congratulate their families and everyone else who contributed every bit to our students success. I have no doubt that it must have taken men and women of great vision, commitment and dedication to have persued the end- goal with the sole aim to succeed. Surely, our faculty deserve recognition throughout this journey. Congratulations once again! Distinguished Audience I am sure those intimately familiar with our University have seen the exciting changes in our Institution s transformation and governance structure which bring with them the founding Chancellor and Council of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Indeed, the new members to our Community are synonymous with a breath of fresh air. 3 P age

4 And so firstly, Honourable Minister, thank you for joining us today and for facilitating the smooth transitioning from the Polytechnic to the Namibia University of Science and Technology. I am sure you are confident that the business of this university will be attended to with the required seriousness, fair- mindedness and diligence which are prerequisites to our success. We look forward to receiving the message from His Excellency the President, who keenly wanted to participate in this ceremony but cannot due to other pressing commitments and demands on his time. appreciation for his support. Kindly convey our Secondly, Honourable Chancellor, allow me to extend a warm welcome to you and your lovely family to the NUST Community. As a world- renowed freedom fighter, historian, educator, politician, diplomat, peacemaker and lawmaker, we are assured of your fulfillment of this most important and critical role. In joining this academic community, your impressive profile of achievements brings a new aura of prestige and respect. Our University has seen tremendous evolution and growth over the past 21 years and has earned the respect and admiration of many here at home and abroad. Surely, this brings credit to our higher education system. I believe the match between yourself and NUST Community will strenghten the foundations of intellectualism, tranquility, respect, and excellence. A hearty welcome to you, Honoiurable Speaker! Thirdly, Esteemed Council Members, the lantern has been passed on to you to advise, guide and govern the University without fear or favour. The challenges 4 P age

5 remain huge and complex, but if early signs are indicative of things to come, the University is only poised to achieve greatness. Thank you for your varied and valued wisdom. Thank you for your dedication to service. Distinguished Audience Lest we forget, one of the oustanding features discernable in modern society is the ubiquitous Internet and mobile devices we carry today. Without digging into our history, let me simply express the meaning of our University and its contribution to every citizen s economic status as follows: NUST, as a technological university, has a role to inform and educate and bring to the public new knowledge, new technologies, inventions, services, products and solutions that can enhance socio- economic development and improve the quality of our lives. This is particularly so with respect to our developing economy in both urban and rural communities. Tremendous achievements are only possible through innovation and our University is driving development through innovation. In history, higher education was not always part of humanity. But in the modern or globalised world, a society is incomplete without higher education being the driver of knowledge creation and development, since education has both the intellectual and economic value. Education stimulates imagination, creativity and interest in knowledge. And it empowers graduates with more 5 P age

6 and better job opportunities and economic security. It is the mainstay of modern economies. For these reasons, we should inspire and build and support NUST in its aspirations, for these are the wishes of the current and future generations. Such support will ensure sustainable innovation. Excellence, "Dum spiro spero" Excellence, as long as I breathe! Welcome everyone, thank you and all the best! - Ends. 6 P age