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Johnathan Paoli
THE University of South Africa (Unisa) celebrated its 150th Anniversary in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa on Monday.
The event was organised jointly by Unisa and the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), through the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Ethiopia.
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, delivered the keynote address, themed “Science diplomacy (and innovation) in the reclaiming of Africa’s intellectual futures into the next 150 years”; pointing out her personal link to the university and its rich history.
A hundred years ago, Pandor’s grandfather, prominent academic ZK Matthews, became the first black man to graduate from Unisa.
“Africa recognises Unisa as being a life-changing institution for many people, especially the working class, who don’t often enjoy the opportunities offered by elite and expensive contact universities,” Minister Pandor continued.
The Minister raised the significant achievements of the University, producing 800 Master’s graduates and numerous PhDs across Africa.
“These graduates, and other Unisa alumni across the continent, should be used to good effect as full time researchers in our various ministries, departments, and public institutions, because that is what is meant by reclaiming intellectual futures. Through their research and the skills they have acquired, they will inform the kinds of changes we wish to see,” she said.
She went on to point to the necessity of creating a set of African countries that can facilitate the ability to create a new and different world, stressing the eradication of poverty as well as utilising intellectual resources to develop concrete plans. More importantly the need to become the best quality Africans, and not to copy the West.
She cited the example of African issues that require urgent solutions as those ranging from how to turn shanty towns into smart cities, devising a cure for a disease killing thousands, African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, to the development of a vaccine for HIV and a new treatment for tuberculosis.
Minister Pandor said that the possibilities of science are limitless, proceeding with groundbreaking research and innovation, she reminded the gathering of the inevitability of the increasing importance of multilateralism, and how this will be strengthened as countries break through frontiers with far greater speed and effectiveness through cooperation.
“My hope,” she said, “is that in rebooting multilateralism and recasting it, science will also help to fortify the bonds of global solidarity on many of the pressing issues of our time. It is time that the issues of Africa become the preeminent issues of the globe. It is only if we, as Africans, make this our agenda that we will achieve this objective.”
Prof Puleng Lenkabula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), briefly recounted the institution’s illustrious history as the world’s first – and preeminent – distance education institution.
“Africans across the continent, and the diaspora, can be immensely proud of this unique innovation that Unisa has added to human civilization as an African contribution,” Vice-Chancellor Lenkabula said.
Describing the evening as a celebration of the South African and Ethiopian governments and people, she pointed to the Pan-African nature of Unisa that shapes futures in the service of humanity and went on to celebrate the establishment of the Ethiopia Regional Centre as a significant milestone in this endeavor.
“We have looked into ten catalytic niche areas central to the developmental questions that the continent faces, a solutions system that we as Africans through knowledge, research, innovation, research, engagement and partnership can establish,” she continued.
In closing she welcomed attendees to “this important celebration of the university of leaders, the university that is a partner to the continent, and the university that projects Africa’s civilizations, knowledge and technologies across the globe”.
The Ethiopian Minister of Education, Dr Bernahu Nega, congratulated the university on its 150th anniversary as a place of cooperating thought, knowledge production and truth.
“What is important in this continent, in my view, is not just to expand education. We must make sure that we expand quality education,” Dr Nega said.
A fascinating panel discussion of the main issues relating to reclaiming Africa’s intellectual futures followed the main speakers, with Ambassador Xolisa Makaya, Head of the South African Embassy in Ethiopia, delivering the vote of thanks.
Prof Lenkabula, Minister Dr Pandor; and Minister Dr Bernahu Nega, presided over the cake-cutting ceremony at the conclusion of the celebration.
INSIDE EDUCATION