When giving a keynote address during the Diamonds Dreams Awards 2024 organised by the Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) on Thursday, Norris advised the learners not to entertain the thinking that their poor family backgrounds or other negative life circumstances could influence what they will become in future. OLDM organised the awards for primary, junior, senior schools located within its zone of influence. Some of the learners are Rural Area Dwellers (RADs). Norris enlightened the learners that there are many people in life who triumphed over adversity and made despite coming from poverty stricken environments. Norris counselled the learners to discard the notion that children who come from privileged backgrounds have a higher chance of success in life as opposed to those who come from poor backgrounds as that is not a given. “Don’t let your background in life discourage you from becoming what you want. You can still make it in life despite the unfavourable situation that you grew up in,” Norris said.
Meanwhile, Norris also told the audience that since Botswana is a country that is heavily dependent on minerals and is transitioning to a knowledge based economy, it was vital for the country to review and revamp its education system. Norris noted that education systems that produce graduates who are innovative and problem solvers have higher chances of success than those who are not. Drawing parallels, Norris said that the top 10 companies that are making trillions today in the word are those that are dependent on knowledge such as Google, Apple, Microsoft among others, as opposed to those that are dependent on resources. Norris advised learners that if Botswana’s diamonds get depleted, the country will need its intellectual capacity to sustain itself because that will be the new normal.
