935 WUA students graduate

Victor Maphosa Herald Reporter
A total of 935 students from various faculties at the Women’s University in Africa (WUA) were yesterday conferred with degrees at a colourful graduation ceremony. Seventy-six percent of the graduates were female. Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Harare yesterday, WUA Vice Chancellor Professor Hope Sadza commended the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for accommodating the university at the Education Services Centre.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the university is grateful to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for accommodating us at the Education Services Centre since 2002 when the university opened and at the moment, our library is still housed at the Education Services Centre, whilst the new library (is) being built at the Harare campus,” she said.

Prof Sadza congratulated the graduates and urged them to become good ambassadors for the university. “I know some of you will be leaving the university as you continue with the journey of life, become good ambassadors of the university and be role models in your respective countries,” she said.

“Most importantly, live and promote a sense of high integrity and moral values.” This year’s graduation brings the number of graduates that have passed through the institution since the inaugural 2005 graduation ceremony to 6 953.

Nicoz Diamond managing director Mrs Grace Muradzikwa, one of the few women to lead a Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed company was awarded an honorary doctorate in leadership at the graduation ceremony. Mrs Divine Simbi Ndhlukula, the managing director of DDNS Security Operations, was also awarded with an honorary doctorate in business leadership.

WUA, Prof Sadza said, was revamping its academic programmes and practices in line with promoting modernisation and industrialisation of the economy through the introduction of medicine, technology, engineering, heritage and culture studies. She said the university continued to grow, as enrolment had since grown to 3 454.

The institution has since introduced a degree in social work, a Masters degree in Child Sensitive and Social Policies, including a masters degree programme in education in early childhood development. There are also new PhD programmes.

Prof Sadza said the university, through the WUA Peer Educators Club, launched the Pad for Life Campaign, where students collect sanitary wear to address issues of reproductive health for the girls in rural areas.

“The club has collected and donated sanitary wear to three secondary schools; namely, Mabika Secondary School in Murewa, Bosha Secondary School in Chikwaka and Chabwino Secondary School in Goromonzi and the initiative has been received with much appreciation from the beneficiaries and the community leaders,” she said. WUA has since acquired a property in Manresa, which now houses the Harare campus, while its Marondera campus will remain the main campus.