President Hichilema Awarded Honorary Doctorate from University of Zambia
President Hakainde Hichilema has been honored with an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration (Hon. D.B.A.) from the University of Zambia (UNZA), nearly 38 years after he first graduated from the same institution.
The ceremony, held in the UNZA Convocation Square, was a moment of nostalgia for the President, who recalled his initial degree ceremony where he shook hands with the nation’s founding father, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, then the university’s Chancellor.
During his address, President Hichilema reflected on the prestigious legacy of UNZA, highlighting its contribution to leadership across the continent.
Notably, UNZA has produced four graduates and one lecturer who have ascended to the presidency in their respective countries, including the late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, immediate past President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and President Hichilema himself. The late Namibian President, Dr. Hage Geingob, also served as a lecturer at UNZA.
The President dedicated his honorary degree to the cause of advancing graduate employability, fostering inclusive development, and addressing social challenges such as inequality, unemployment, and poverty.
In a call to action, he urged the private sector and UNZA alumni to collaborate with the government in enhancing the quality of higher education in Zambia.
Additionally, he emphasized the need for public universities to adapt to evolving circumstances to ensure effective governance.
