Focus on adding value,’ graduates told

Daniel Chigunwe – Herald Correspondent

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has called on graduates to be innovative and focus more on value addition.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy minister Simelisizwe Sibanda at the 20th graduation ceremony of 1 211 learners from the Women’s University in Africa (WUA) on Friday where he was the guest of honor.

He reminded institutions of higher learning that their excellence is no longer measured by the number of graduates but by the number of start-ups and spin-offs emanating from their students.

Drawn from the institution’s three faculties of Management and Entrepreneurial Sciences, Agricultural, Environmental and Health Sciences, and Social and Gender Transformative Sciences, seven graduates were conferred with doctorate degrees, 222 with Masters degrees, 694 with Bachelors, 274 with Diplomas while two were awarded posthumously.

“In our new thrust on education, we are focusing on producing the capabilities for catapulting to the upper middle-income economy by 2030,” he said.

“Our education system has departed from chasing phantom things to chasing reality that is grounded in the fulfillment of human needs. All formulae and knowledge taught must be grounded in reality and seen in action.

“That is what we encouraging our universities through Zimche to say all programs that will not add value in terms of our food security and the development of this country should be scrapped. We must focus on adding value.”.

He commended the university for its steps towards the establishment of an agriculture innovation hub at their lucrative Marondera farm.

The institution was applauded for addressing gender disparity by creating easy access to education for women through its 85 percent female and 15 percent male enrolment protocol.

Among those who graduated with a doctorate degree was the Member of Parliament for Mazowe Central Dr Maxmore Njanji who was conferred with a PHD in Agribusiness following a study meant to enhance cotton production in Zimbabwe.

Dr Njanji, former head of marketing with the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) said his study will contribute to the body of knowledge meant to address the decline of cotton production in line with the Agriculture 8.0 model

“My study looked at the three main cotton farming models in Zimbabwe which are self-financing, government-funded and contract farming. With a 20-year background in cotton farming, I am confident my research will contribute towards increased production of this white gold,” said Dr Njanji.