04 Sep 2016

The Third President, Dr Festus Mogae on Friday inaugurated Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) vice chancellor Prof. Otlogetswe Totolo.

Prof. Totolo is the first citizen to be appointed as BIUST chancellor after the resignation of Prof. Hillary Inyang and Prof. Kweku Bentil.

Speaking during a ceremony held at BIUST, Dr Mogae who is also the university chancellor said he was proud to be inaugurating Prof Totolo as the third vice chancellor and the first motswana to be appointed to the helm of BIUST.

He said Prof. Totolo was an outstanding and seasoned university administrator, brilliant scholar and internationally renowned soil scientist.

“I am inaugurating you, Prof Totolo as the vice chancellor of BIUST at a critical time in the development of the university,” he said.

He said the BIUST council had just approved the Strategic Plan 2016 to 2022 and the new administrative head would be driving the strategic plan to achieve the national agenda, in alignment with the current national policies and plans such as vision 2036, National Development Plans and the Millenium Development Goals and beyond 2015.

For his part, Prof. Totolo accepted the position saying, “I accept with profound gratitude and a high sense of responsibility, the mantle of office and leadership which you have just formally thrust on my shoulders. For the honour you have bestowed on me, I promise not to buckle under its stress and loading but I will do my outmost best to ensure success, whatever it takes in terms of my personal true development to become the envy of other nations currently in comparable natural resource based situations.”

He said establishing a university of science and technology is a capital intensive venture that comes with challenges associated with setting up the institution, adequately resourcing it and effectively operating it to the required level of sophistication.

He said though BIUST was established in 2005, it started admitting students only in 2012.

He said despite the initial struggles attributable to growing pains, the institution has stabilised and advanced to a stage to convince stakeholders that the sky is the limit.

“I want to assure government and Batswana that the decision to establish a second public university specifically to lead the nation in application of science, technology and innovation was an excellent one,” he said.

He said science and technology will thus become a way of life of the people and serve as an engine of growth to drive the transformation of this country from a nation dependent on a mono, unsustainable mineral wealth to one anchored on sustainable knowledge based economy.

“With time, the nation will look back with pride and be glad that by establishing this university, government took the decision that set the country on the right path of true development to become the envy of other nations currently in comparable natural resource based situations.

Prof. Totolo is a renowned environmental scientist and is bringing invaluable wealth of experience in academia, having held senior academic positions at the University of Botswana, where he served as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Professor of Environmental Science (Soil Science).

Prof Totolo held numerous key positions such as director of the Centre for Scientific Research, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, dean of the Faculty of Science and head of Environmental Science.

He has also served in various key UB strategic committees such as Council Senate, Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee and Research Committee.

He is also one of the first three Batswana to be inaugurated as fellows of the Botswana Academy of Sciences, an independent scientific body to government.

Prof Totolo holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Education obtained at University of Botswana, Master of Science at the University of Reading in UK, Doctor of Philosophy Degree at the University of London (UK). ENDS