20 Oct 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says the University of Botswana (UB) has attested to the importance of accompanying education with research, innovation and technology.

In his remarks at UB’s 40th graduation ceremony in Gaborone yesterday, he said the institution proved that research and innovation were key at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

UB was at the forefront of research, innovation and providing expertise as well as the human resources that contained the spread of the pandemic, he said.

Dr Masisi said the university did not only produce sanitizers but in collaboration with Botswana Institute of Geomatics, it also developed three computer software tools that assisted the Ministry of Health in the management and monitoring of the pandemic. 

The tools comprised a web map visualisation and live tracking dashboard that recorded data to illustrate real time trends of COVID-19 cases in Botswana, he explained.

Dr Masisi also commended UB for taking the lead and embarking on sustainable innovations as well as creating solutions that benefited communities.

 UB, he said, had become an innovation hub with the production of biodiesel and harnessing of solar energy resources. 

The projects proved that research and innovation were key to economic upliftment and therefore must be well funded and fit for purpose, said the President.

Dr Masisi said it was for that reason that government sponsored the biodiesel project with P18.7m for a period of two years from 2019.

The President revealed that UB also received P2.1m to cover the three focus areas in the production of biofuel.

“In addition, the ministry released a total of P1.9 million which the university was to use to fully equip the biofuel testing laboratory and apply for its accreditation so that it could become a national testing centre for biofuel,” Dr Masisi said. 

He said UB collaborated with Botswana Vaccine Institute to conduct research on Foot and Mouth vaccine appropriate for Southern Africa,

President Masisi said the research was a welcome development geared at protecting Batswana’s livelihoods.

The President said government’s commitment towards financially  supporting UB was in recognition of the significance of new technologies which also formed part of the country’s vision for attaining sustainable economic diversification and employment creation. 

“Batswana must be optimally prepared for the technology age and I am fully confident that the University of Botswana is well on track to deliver on that,” stated President Masisi.

Established in 1982, UB has produced more than 84 000 graduates since its inception.

Dr Masisi encouraged the 2022 cohort to conquer the world saying with the quality of education they had received, they were assured of greater achievements. ends