General
Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Tips Students on Personal Branding
“Change your mindset and stop giving reasons, which reasons don’t put food on the table. This world has two types of people; the result people and the reason people. Which one are you?” Daniel Choudry asked his audience. “The reason people will give all excuses as to why they can’t do or achieve something and end up blaming everything around them including their parents, but can’t blame themselves. The result people are those who have an “I CAN” internal dialogue and see the opportunities and possibilities in everything,” he further explained.
On Thursday, 18th April 2019, 100 students gathered in the Senate Conference Room to participate in a workshop on how to get jobs and handle life after campus. The session was organized by Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD), Makerere University as part of their program of training the scholarship beneficiaries.
The Guest Speaker and Director of the Daniel Choudry Sales Institute Mr. Daniel Choudry advised the students to always have a unique identity that makes them stand out in the job market by building a personal brand.
Giving the opening remarks, the Director Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD), Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine thanked Daniel Choudry for accepting to pass on life changing tips and advised the students to take note of every single word. She called upon the students to adopt some life principles such as integrity, patience, trust and faithfulness which may not be taught in class but are essential for any employer before he/she entrusts anyone with his/her business. Dr. Euzobia also urged the students to develop an attitude of hard work if they are to become successful.
“I know that you all want to be successful people in this country but what are you doing to achieve this? Your performance decides which position you should be; schedule yourselves and know where you are to be at any given time. Take advantage of the free time you have by doing productive things that will result in good fruits,” said Dr. Euzobia
She called for teamwork among students while at their places of work and advised them to develop passion to learn what they don’t know as well as being flexible in all situations and jobs.
“Have one thing in you that will always make you stand out and that one thing will always qualify you for a job. The bosses in those companies are looking for one unique element in you that others may not have. Always strive to build a personal brand and that brand will take you where you want to reach; have a good identity and people will look for you,” advised Mr. Choudry as he started out.
He further encouraged the students to have personal ambitions, belief and trust in even before others see the potential in them.
“There is no such a thing as a man who was born great, instead, they were just once like you and with positive mindsets, aggressiveness, good attitude and belief and trust in themselves, they stretched to be productive and became what we see and admire in them now,” remarked Daniel, citing examples such as the President H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
He advised them to make good use of all networking opportunities as it helps them generate new knowledge and ideas from people who have succeeded in life. Networking, he added, also helps to create new friends and pave way for job opportunities.
Mr. Choudry further called upon the students to be persistent. He shared an example of a scientist who made the bulb but failed 99 times and only succeeded on the 100th try. He continued and encouraged them to take all the little steps that come their way other than seating back waiting for the bigger opportunities.
“It’s always better to start with the small opportunities. Sometimes you have to first get some experience for before you actually get there. Pay the price and you will get where you want to be. You can’t seat home and spend every single day watching television and doing nothing and then expect to compete for a job market with someone who has been gaining some experience elsewhere. Remember we are all competing for the same piece of cake,” he illustrated.
He condemned the act of pride, ego, attitude and foolishness exposed by the youth which characters don’t draw responsible people towards them but instead pushes them away, reminding them that only the humble succeed in life.
“Showing off prominent body features doesn’t portray sense in you, be a woman of virtue and dignity and avoid hopeless relationships. When you look smart, you attract people; being a slayer takes you nowhere but simply indicates the level of your unseriousness. To the men, it’s useless to look hot or handsome when your pocket is penniless. Don’t objectify women. If you don’t mean to be with her, don’t mess with her emotions; you need people to like you because if they don’t then they won’t give you opportunities,” Daniel advised.
He amused the audience when he stated that bosses in the job field don’t recruit based on impressive papers but rather based on the person’s ability. Here he clearly illustrated that first class degrees are not what employers are looking for as there are many people with good papers but can’t justify their performance by producing good results in their job placements.
Mr. Pade Brian from Daniel Choudry Sales Institute additionally advised students to develop hunger for jobs if they are to enter into the competitive job market. He also advised them not to undermine any job that comes their way as long as it’s a clean job.
He echoed that a degree is just a stepping stone in one’s job and tipped the students on the A life principles namely: Accept who you are; Adopt what you are; Advance what you have achieved for a better level of life; and Attitude, passion and skill in combination.
Mr. Pade also advised them to avail themselves for volunteering opportunities that come their way and avoid priotizing money at the top of everything.
“Most of you mind about money, but money comes at a certain time. Sometimes you have to volunteer as it’s through those volunteering opportunities that you will be able to get job connections that will lead you to where the money is,” advised Pade.
Ms. Justine Nakanwagi a Mak alumni thanked the Directorate for organizing the life changing seminars as they impact a lot on students’ careers. She revealed that she was once a student sponsored by Mak Gender Mainstreaming Directorate and out of similar life changing seminars, she was able to get in touch with Daniel Choudry Sales Institute and was later employed as a Senior Sales Associate.
She advised her fellow youth to have the passion to doing things they have never done and to develop goals and work hard to see that they are all fulfilled.
Article by Rachael Kanyi, Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
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