Thandiwe’s diploma brings joy to Rupiah

Thandiwe’s diploma brings joy to Rupiah
Written by Agness Changala
Sunday, September 13, 2009 8:20:36 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said he was deprived of time to be with his wife Thandiwe when she was studying for an advanced diploma in Information Technology at AIBT.

President Banda said this during the second graduation ceremony for Australian Institute of Business and Technology (AIBT) at which Thandiwe graduated, with many others, at Mulungushi International Conference Centre. He said he was deprived of her company whenever she went home with friends to study.

“But I didn’t mind and I understood because I knew that you meant well and I congratulate her today,’ President said.

He said he was proud that while carrying out other responsibilities placed on her by her status as first lady, Thandiwe had acquired the advanced diploma. He reminded her that there was more to be achieved and that she should continue to aspire for even higher qualifications.

“It is a good example for our children and for our country as a whole,” he said.

President Banda said he was happy that this happened with his encouragement and tutelage.

“You will, no doubt, recall that my father-in-law, your father, was anxious when we got married, citing his desire that you go further in your education,” President Banda.

He said in graduating with an advanced diploma under his tutelage and that of AIBT, he was sure that his father-in-law’s concerns must have somewhat eased.

President Banda urged all spouses to encourage each other to attain higher education.

“This is happening all over the world, that’s how countries develop and are moving forward,” he said.

And President Banda said he was saddened to see young people, especially students, resorting to violent ways of expressing views.

He said young people should learn to dialogue and avoid unnecessary disturbances at learning institutions.

President Banda said when he was young, their fight was for political independence.

“We were prepared to travel across our country living without food sometimes, facing arrests and imprisonment. Ours was a physical and moral fight,” President Banda said.

He said the young people’s fight today was the emancipation and poverty alleviation of the country.

“You and your country are competing on the world level. To win, you have to be better prepared than your competitors as your level and quality of education is what will determine success or failure,” said President Banda.

And AIBT principal Marian Mighell told the graduands to develop critical way of thinking using the skills they had acquired while at the university.

Mighell urged graduands to have the ability to generate ideas and develop a cross cultural outlook and that would enable them easily embrace the Zambian society.

And giving a vote of thanks on behalf of the graduating students, Sheila De Sousa Arcanjo said education was key to solving world problems and urged governments world over to make it as priority.

Arcanjo urged fellow graduands to become the best to society wherever they went. She also thanked lecturers at AIBT for being there for them as they studied up to the time they graduated.