STATEMENT BY THE RT HON. PRIME MINISTER

DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI

DURING THE COURTESY CALL BY DR LIM KOK WING

AT THE CABINET OFFICES, MBABANE

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2015

Emeritus Dr Lim Kok Wing, Founder and President of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

Vice-Presidents of Limkokwing University of Creative of Technology

Campus Director and Staff of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Swaziland

Representatives of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an honour and a great pleasure to welcome you, Dr Lim Kok Wing, to my Offices today and, indeed, to the Kingdom of Swaziland.

As a great friend and benefactor to Swaziland, you must consider this your second home in this part of Africa. Well, in fact, you have similarly thriving Limkokwing Universities of Creative Technology in Botswana and Lesotho so perhaps we would be sharing the status with those two countries.

To establish the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Swaziland four years ago was not only a highly visionary and generous gesture by you, but it made a very significant contribution to what we, in Swaziland, can offer our young people in terms of an education that fits the modern world. Because the words “Creative Technology” strike directly to the core of what modern economies and societies are demanding.

Having already attended graduation ceremonies in Lesotho and Botswana, you are now arriving in preparation for the same event at our own Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, here in Swaziland. This is the second graduation ceremony since the launch of the University and I am sure it will be as proud a moment for you, as it will be for all of us, as you see 800 or so young people receiving their certificates in anticipation of their entry into the world of applied technology.

With around 2,600 students currently attending this University the staffing requirement is substantial, and I understand there are 103 members of staff, all of whom are paid by your global institution, the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. That is a quite extraordinary level of generosity and, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, I do express our deepest gratitude for your donor support to our education system.

With a further 12 similar universities in three continents that you are supporting, your donor programme has a truly global dimension. Additionally, your institution is funding 13 Swazi students in Malaysia itself. Dr Lim Kok Wing, the Kingdom of Swaziland is also deeply grateful for that programme.

 

We hope that, during your stay in Swaziland, you will have the opportunity to see some of the beautiful sights of Swaziland and we look forward to enjoying your company again during the second graduation ceremony in the life of our Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, this coming Friday.

Thank you.