26 Apr 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has hailed Limkokwing University of Creative Arts and Technology for the splendor that characterises the school.

Touring the school on Tuesday 26, President Khama expressed the pride and satisfaction he felt upon realising how the institution’s students were zealous, dedicated and vibrant.

He said the government’s sponsorship of students studying at Limkokwing was money well spent. He added that the fact that 4 700 of the 5 000 students who studied at Limkokwing were government sponsored was worth celebrating.

“This for me is unique because there are not many countries that sponsor their own students,” he said.

He said after the visit he understood why the Minister of Education and Skills Development kept highlighting that the ministry budget was not enough to cover the sponsorship of all eligible students.

“Coming here today really motivates me to say that we must put as many of our young people in such institutions as this,” he said.

He expressed hope that when students graduate, they would put into practice what they had learnt in order to contribute to the country’s economy.

He noted that he had heard of many contributions that Limkokwing made in the country, adding that the institution was the pioneer of innovation globally.

He said the university’s international status was underscored by the fact that it was now operating in three continents and boast of 10 other campuses with a combined population of over 30 000 students in more than 150 countries.

President Khama also said the government would continue to prioritise education, adding that with the establishment of the Limkokwing Gaborone campus, Botswana became an important part of a much wider Limkokwing community. He also noted that Limkokwing became an important player in building an educated and informed nation as aspired by one of the pillars of Vision 2016.

For his part, the Vice Chancellor of Limkokwing University of Creative Arts and Technology, Proffessor Cedric Bell said the university has transformed Botswana’s tertiary education landscape by introducing a unique range of creativity-orientated programmes.

The creativity-orientated programmes, he said, changed the mindset by demonstrating that creative industries were a reservoir of entrepreneurial flair and opportunity.

He said last year the school was delighted to be appointed as a strategic partner in the government’s Target 20 000 initiative meant to up-skill and upscale 20 000 young Batswana in the areas they needed in order to re-energise the economy of Botswana.

For his part, Limkokwing University Botswana council chairperson, Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo commended President Khama for placing education among the top five priorities of his administration.

“Your commitment and generosity to improving the lives of the youth, in particular in any way you can, and your generosity towards the less privileged among us continues to warm every heart and inspire every soul,” he said. ENDS