09 Oct 2017

Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi is to be inaugurated as the fourth chancellor of the University of Botswana on October 14.

A press release from the University of Botswana states that Mr Masisi will be making history as the first alumnus and the second non-head of state to occupy such a position.

The inauguration, together with the graduation ceremony, will take place at the University of Botswana Stadium from 6am.

The release states that since its inception 35 years ago, the University of Botswana has had the position of chancellor occupied only thrice, first it was in 1982 when Sir Ketumile Masire became the inaugural chancellor.

It states that Sir Ketumile served for a period of 16 years during his tenure as state president and when he retired from the presidency in 1998, he passed the baton to third President Dr Festus Mogae who served for a period of 10 years.

According to the release, when Dr Mogae retired from the presidency in 2008, Sir Ketumile made history by becoming the third chancellor and the first non head of state to hold such position adding that Sir Ketumile held the position until his death in June this year.

“Therefore, when Vice President Masisi is inaugurated as the fourth chancellor on October 14, 2017, he will be making history as the first University of Botswana alumnus and the second non-head of state to occupy such a post,” states the release.

The release also states that Mr Masisi will confer Degrees and Diplomas at a joint University of Botswana (UB) and the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) graduation ceremony which follows immediately after his inauguration.

It states that about 2 753 graduands will receive their certificates from UB and BUAN this year and of the number, 2 467 are from UB comprising 14 PhDs, 189 Masters’ Degrees, 1 898 undergraduate degrees, 249 PGCD and 117 diplomas.

From BUAN, there are 286 graduands comprising nine Masters’ Degrees, 226 undergraduate degrees and 51 diplomas and the graduation ceremony will be the 35th since the inception of the University of Botswana in 1982.ENDS