UB Foundation Sponsored Over 300 Masters Students
Betty Ramohubu | Monday September 17, 2018 12:06
The event, themed ‘Nurturing a Knowledge-based Economy through Alumni Engagement’, was attended by amongst other dignitaries UB Vice Chancellor, Prof. David Norris, UB Foundation Deputy Chairperson, Linah Mohohlo, the Board of the Foundation and Balisi Bonyongo, who is the Managing Director of Debswana Diamond Company.
The UB Foundation was officially launched in March 2000, with a view to raising funds to augment the resources set aside to finance higher education.
When giving her speech, Mohohlo explained that the Foundation strives to ensure that many Batswana access postgraduate studies, which are indispensable in furthering the needs of the country’s economy.
In the circumstances, where there is a shortage of funds for postgraduate study programmes, the UB Foundation steps in when it can and awards some sponsorship to deserving students, she said.
She added that the Foundation has produced good work since its inception and the endowment fund has grown to just about P8 million, and through the interest generated from investing the endowment money, over 300 students have been awarded scholarships to undertake Masters Degree study programmes.
She said that the alumni contributions towards the Foundation would be welcome. The need to engage the alumni draws from the attested spirit of UB campus appeal of 1976, Motho le Motho kgomo, which saw Batswana contribute handsomely towards the building of the University.
Bonyongo, who was the guest speaker, noted that by 2036, Botswana aspires to be a high-income country, with an export-led economy underpinned by diversified, inclusive and sustainable growth driven by high levels of productivity.
The economy will be efficient, vibrant, innovation and knowledge-based with access to a skilled and internationally competitive workforce, leading edge technology and infrastructure. He continued to say that regarding the knowledge- based economy, the nation should use the science and technology and innovation in our social, economic and business spheres in order to enhance the benefits of efficiency.
“The translation into reality of our vision of a knowledge-based economy is everyone’s responsibility. I challenge us all to step back from never-ending benchmarking work shopping and conferencing and move in a radically different direction. We need to execute, execute and execute,” Bonyongo said.