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Ag. Heads of IT & IS Dr. Evelyn Kahiigi & Dr. Peter Nabende hand over office

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Two long time Acting (Ag.) Heads of Department from the School of Computing and Information Technology, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) have handed over office to substantive heads.

Dr. Evelyn Kigozi Kahiigi who has served for eight years in Acting capacity as Head, Department of Information Technology (IT) has handed over the instruments of power to Dr. Fiona Tulinayo Penlope.

Dr. Peter Nabende who has served for nine years in Acting capacity as Head, Department of Information Systems (IS) has handed over to Dr. Agnes Nakakawa as substantive head.

Prof. Tonny Oyana making his remarks.
Prof. Tonny Oyana making his remarks.

The handover ceremony for the duo was held on 27th July 2022 in the CoCIS Conference Room witnessed by the Principal CoCIS, Prof. Tonny Oyana, the Dean School of Computing and Information Technology Assoc. Prof, Gilbert Maiga, the representative from Internal Audit Mr, Aggrey Luwuliza, the Human Resource  Officer, CoCIS Mr. Godwin Okiror, and staff from the college.

 Prof. Oyana who described succession as part of life and management thanked the outgoing and incoming heads for offering themselves to serve the college. He noted that offering oneself for service is a public good and a challenge for all.

“You should have time for the college. There are three key responsibilities; Research – as you have to continue being a scholar; Teaching – a service that you offer to the nation to transfer knowledge to students; and thirdly Service to our country because God created us to serve him and others”. Prof. Oyana advised.

Some of the staff who witnessed the handover included the representative from Internal Audit Mr. Aggrey Luwuliza (L) among others.
Some of the staff who witnessed the handover included the representative from Internal Audit Mr. Aggrey Luwuliza (L) among others.

Prof. Oyana stressed that teaching is not a job but rather, a calling of transforming somebody’s life and adding value.  Whereas money facilitates teaching, the professor advised it should not be the primary motivator for staff.

“Thank you Fiona and Agnes  for accepting to take on the responsibility to serve the College, Makerere University and Uganda at large. Allowances are important and will come, but, they should not be your primary motivation but to do good. When you leave office and you find you have uplifted someone, you will find happiness”, Prof. Oyana counselled.

The Dean School of Computing and Information Technology Assoc. Prof. Gilbert Maiga hailed the college management for organizing the handover expressing hope that this would be the practice whenever there is change of office.

Assoc. Prof. Gilbert Maiga makes his remarks.

Prof. Maiga appreciated the outgoing heads for their dedicated services and sometimes serving outside the working hours. He equated the role of the heads of departments to the wheels on which the vehicle moves.

“I thank Evelyn and Peter for the job well done. The whole university depends on departments and I thank you colleagues for being good wheels in the university. They ensured students are admitted and graduate, so we are really very grateful for their services.

“To the incoming, It is a challenging assignment but we want to thank you for offering yourselves to serve and meet this challenge on behalf of the university. This university is a bureaucracy and in a bureaucracy, decisions are made by committees.  A Department is so important in a way that once it decides, the Dean cannot overrule unless there is proper reason, which must be taken back for further consideration”, he added.

Outgoing Heads of Department speak

Outgoing head Department of Information Systems Dr. Peter Nabende thanked God for keeping him healthy and available to serve under different Principals, Deans and Administrators who accorded him support with different but effective styles of leadership and management.

Dr. Peter Nabende (R) shows Dr. Agnes Nakakawa (2nd R) around her new office as other officials witness.

“I did substantive work in acting capacity as no one was willing to take up the substantive position but I am glad Dr. Agnes Nakakawa has accepted to take over. I appreciate the work by my colleagues, they have been resourceful, hardworking and supporting the department and university in different roles such as internship coordination, handling graduate programmes, examinations, teaching and research work”, Nabende appreciated.

The outgoing head Department of Information Technology Dr. Evelyn Kigozi Kahiigi thanked the office of the Principal, the Dean and Administrative officers for the guidance and mentorship during her eight year tenure noting that by the time she took over, the department had only one associate professor and one lecturer but many staff have ascended in their academic ranks.

“In eight years, I have been able to have an opportunity to act as Dean while he was on sabbatical leave, had an opportunity to serve as examination coordinator and I did a good job and all structures were put in place. The university adopted one of the forms I developed for non-registered students,” she reported.

Dr. Evelyn Kigozi Kahiigi makes her remarks.

Dr. Kahiigi also said  as only female dean on the fourth floor,  all cases of students in need of counselling  came to her door adding that, this gelling provided  her an opportunity to connect with students across the school through an open door policy.

“Also God and family. As head you are everybody’s person and in so doing the family suffers. I thank my family for the support and God who has guided and given me grace to lead a wonderful team till today”, Dr. Kahiigi said.

Kahiigi informed the successor that the most challenging time for the head is during graduation when parents and students are excited and expressed the need for proper coordination and being available to support the students.

Staff  hail outgoing heads

Speaker after speaker, praised Dr. Evelyn Kahiigi and Dr. Peter Nabende for their exemplary service and humility.

Dr. Peter Nabende (R) presents his handover report to Dr. Agnes Nakakawa (L).

“These are people who have stood the test of time working in acting positions and they have given us hope that if appointed to a higher office, they can handle”, Dr. Agaba Joab said.

The departments have not found better and exceptional heads. Your commitment to work has motivated us. Dr. Evelyn is a mother and we thank you for mentoring  us and we commit our unwavering support to the in-coming Head.

In Peter, we also found a very responsible person, I felt at home that we had two heads of department to consult anytime and were available physically and on phone”, said Dr. Annabella.

A section of participants attending the handover ceremony.
A section of participants attending the handover ceremony.

“It is encouraging to continue having female Heads of department. I thank the outgoing head Dr. Evelyn who has been a parent and at times of need would welcome you to her home to fix a problem. Dr. Fiona, you have our support.

“Peter, you are very flexible even in times of pressure you always found a way of calming down the situation,” Another one said.

New Heads of Department accept the appointment

“I am accepting the role. I will not chicken out. I am not an administrator but a teacher by calling. I appreciate the Principal and all colleagues who have been calling upon me to take up the administrative role”, Dr. Nakakawa said, thanking the outgoing head and  staff for the support and the university management for trust.

Dr. Agnes Nakakawa, Head, Department of Information Systems, CoCIS.

“I want to say, I accept. I thank the University for entrusting me with the responsibility. I am not threatened by words. Let me experience and see how it is.” Dr. Fiona Tulinayo Penlope said,  pledging that she will deliver.

About the new Heads of Department

Dr. Tulinayo Fiona Penlope

Dr. Tulinayo Fiona Penelope, Head, Department of Information Technology, CoCIS.

Fiona Tulinayo is a Lecturer at the School of computing and Information Science, Makerere
University
. Dr. Tulinayo holds a PhD in Information Systems from Radboud University,
Nijmegen in the Netherlands; a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelors of Industrial and Fine Arts from Makerere University. She specializes in systems development and computer graphics designing. Dr. Tulinayo has also undertake several trainings including scientific writing from University of Maastricht Language Centre, business process management from Vught, and Information Knowledge Systems organization from Zeist School for Information and Knowledge Systems in The Netherlands. Dr. Tulinayo has also specialized competences in modeling including; conceptual and domain modeling, system dynamics modeling, method engineering and process modeling. Further, she is an astute researcher, collaborator, technical and scientific writer with specialized abilities in handling institutional and development processes and management. Fiona has also provided several technical and institutional capacity development and support to the Ministry of Justice, Uganda and the Monitor Publications in Uganda.

Dr. Agnes Nakakawa

Agnes Nakakawa is an Information Systems professional and a Statistician. Since 2004, she has been involved in academia where she has proficiently lectured curriculum in the field of Computing and IT. She is also a diligent researcher in the Department of Information Systems at the School of Computing and IT. Nakakawa Agnes holds a PhD in Information Systems (Enterprise Architecture and Collaboration Engineering) from Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherlands). Her PhD research involved developing a process/method that enterprise (IT) architects can use to deeply involve and collaborate with organizational stakeholders during the creation/design of baseline and target enterprise architectures. During her PhD research, she closely collaborated with several enterprises in Uganda. Dr. Agnes Nakakawa also holds an MSc. (Computer Information Systems). Her Masters research involved developing a spatial decision support tool that can be used to locate suitable landfill sites for municipal waste management in Wakiso and Kampala districts. She also holds a Bachelors degree in Statistics (Statistical Computing) from Makerere University.

Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, CoCIS

Computing & IS

Cisco NetAcad Olympics 2024

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Block A of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Makerere University, with foliage in the foreground, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Centre for Innovations & Professional Skills Development, College of Computing & IS at Makerere University is announcing the Middle East & Africa NetAcad Olympics 2024 FREE Training Clinic. The opportunity is here to raise the next generation of Network Professionals. All youth are invited to be part of this competition and experience a change in their lives. Participants will be exposed to either Network foundations CCNA 1 (Introduction to Networks), Cybersecurity Ops (How you can protect networks and yourself online today), and/or Network Security (protect and secure of the underlying networking infrastructure).

Dates: 1st – 31st March 2024

Opportunity begins here.

Cisco NetAcad is offering the following trainings :

  1. Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) 1 
  2. Network Security
  3. CyberOps (Cyber Security) Associate

REGISTER using the link below:
https://forms.gle/SVTZBhHJz75t7ZUbA

ADDITIONAL info. available via WhatsApp link below:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/EijTAyNcUZs5HbwITLTT7W

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Computing & IS

CoCIS CIPSD Call For Applications: March, May, July & September 2024 Short Courses Intakes

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The Principal CoCIS, Prof. Tonny Oyana (Right) joined by the Head CIPSD-Ms. Barbara Nalubega (Left) presents a certificate to one of the over 300 graduands who pursued education under the auspices of the Makerere-Amity and e-VBAB Project during the award ceremony held on 14th April 2023 at CoCIS, Makerere University.

Makerere University College of Computing & Information Sciences ‘Centre for Innovations and Professional Skills Development (CIPSD) is a highly regarded unit in Makerere University and plays a significant role in providing individuals with practical computer knowledge and skills to support a 21st century knowledge-based economy. The centre strategically offers training that is responsive to the needs of the society which is achieved through tailoring courses towards what the industry demands. The Centre has been at the forefront to assist government and other organizations to build human capacity with various ICT skills. The Centre has the capacity to enroll 5,000 students per annum because it has large-sized computer laboratories with a 500-seater capacity.

CIPSD’s mission is two-fold:1) to offer ICT professional skills development and incubation of new ideas, as well as, nurture new technology-based businesses; and 2) to augment theoretical computing knowledge among individuals and ground them with relevant professional ICT skills for industries.

Courses Offered

  1. Certificate in Computer Applications (CCA) @ UGX 200,000 for 5 weeks
    This is an introductory course that teaches one how to use a computer and the basic applications used in an office, business, or computing environment.
    New intake commenced on 5th Feb 2024. Time: 9:00am to 11:00 am daily for 5 weeks
  2. Cisco Certified Networking Associate CCNA) @ UGX 700,000 for 6 months
    Designed for people who have no previous computer networking experience, schoolleavers, graduates and mature entrants retraining for a second career. The course provides knowledge and skills related to network fundamentals, LAN switching technologies etc.
  3. PC Repair & Software Maintenance@ UGX 700,000 for 8 weeks
    This course provides an excellent introduction to IT and an interactive exposure to personal computers, hardware& operating systems as well as advanced concepts
  4. Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) @ UGX 1,000,000 for 6 months
    The current CCNP curriculum is divided into two skill sets :
    Advanced routing & Core networking
    This course is the advanced level required of Network Engineers
  5. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate /Microsoft Azure (Fundamentals and Administration) @ UGX 700,000 for 2 months per module
    This course is for professionals who examine and investigate company needs and then plan, design, install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Microsoft Windows Server solutions, SQL Database server systems etc. (Consists of 5 modules)
  6. ORACLE Database 19C @ UGX 800,000 for 3 months
    Administration Workshop Course Overview
    In this oracle certification you will learn about Oracle database administrator practical experience in administering, monitoring, tuning and troubleshooting an Oracle database.
    Through a blend of hands-on labs and interactive lectures you will learn how to create database storage structures appropriate for the business applications supported by your database.
  7. Certificate in Graphics & Image Editing @ UGX 600,000 for 2 months
    Learn the design software programs that every pro needs to know: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Discover techniques for creating digital images, illustrations, and layouts, addressing fundamental concepts in color, typography, and composition.
  8. Dynamic Website Development @ UGX 600,000 for 2 months
    Get the skills and hands-on practice you need to succeed in the complex and challenging world of web development.
  9. Cyber Security Ops Associate @ UGX 700,000 for 2 months
    Students learn about the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
  10. Certificate in Video Editing & Motion Graphics @ UGX 500,000 for 2 months
    In this certificate you will learn how to edit and tell a story using Adobe Premiere Pro, use After Effects to create motion graphics and titles and use Adobe’s Dynamic Linking to make the most efficient workflow possible.
  11. IC3 Digital literacy/ICDL @ UGX 1,400,000 UGX for 2 months
    (Internet Core Competency Certification) Digital Literacy certification is a global benchmark for basic computer literacy, operating systems, hardware, software, and networks.
  12. Ethical Hacking @ UGX 700,000 for 6 weeks
    Many depend on ethical hackers to identify weaknesses in their networks, endpoints, devices, or applications. The hacker informs their client as to when they will be attacking the system, as well as the scope of the attack. An ethical hacker operates within the confines of their agreement with their client.
    Who is best suited for a career in Ethical Hacking? Ethical hackers are generally experts in programming, cybersecurity, security analysis, and networking infrastructure. Ethical hackers tend to be out-of-the-box thinkers
  13. Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning & Deep learning) with PYTHON@ UGX 700,000 for 6 weeks
    This is a hands-on coding course that focuses on Labs and projects& It entails:
    • Implementing a linear regression model using Python and NumPy.
    • Building a decision tree classifier for a given dataset using scikit-learn.
    • Developing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify images using TensorFlow or Keras.
    • Training a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) on a given text dataset to generate new text.
    • Implementing a reinforcement learning algorithm to train an agent to play a game. Etc
  14. Programming/Coding in PYTHON @ UGX 600,000 for 2 months
    This course will provide an introduction to programming using Python for highly motivated students with little or no prior experience in programming automated devices. The course will focus on planning and organizing programs, as well as the grammar of the Python programming language
  15. Data Analysis & Visualization Using PYTHON @ UGX 700,000 for 4 Weeks
    Python is a great language for doing data analysis, primarily because of the fantastic ecosystem of data-centric Python packages. Pandas is one of those packages, and makes importing and analyzing data much easier.
    The course delves into: Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
  16. 3D Computer Animation
    3D Computer Animation is a practice-led course that explores both the theory and practice of digital 3D animation in film, television, games and interactive applications.
    For the Beginners’ Stage UGX 500,000, For the Intermediate Stage UGX 650,000 & For The Advanced Stage UGX 650,000 (7 Months Total Duration & 1 Month Of Internship At Crossroads Multimedia Ltd)
  17. Computer Skills Bootcamps and Master Classes.
    We also organise special bootcamps and master classes in January, March, June, August, October, and December. These hands-on practial sessions are meant to help participants brush up their Computer skills.

Contact us

Whatsapp or Call : +256-752-779964
Url: www.cis.mak.ac.ug/cipsd

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Computing & IS

Over 600 graduate from CoCIS during the Mak 74th Graduation ceremony

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The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Right) confers the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science upon Ms. Ilako Caroline (Left) on Day 3 of the 74th Graduation. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

661 graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) were on 31st January awarded degrees and diplomas in the different disciplines during the 3rd session of Mak 74th Graduation ceremony.

Of that total, 626 graduates walked away with undergraduate (Bachelors degrees), 32 with  Masters Degrees, 2 with PhDs while 1 got a Post Graduate Diploma.

The Principal – CoCIS, Prof. Tonny Oyana presenting the graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Principal – CoCIS, Prof. Tonny Oyana presenting the graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences. 

The five-day long graduation ceremony kicked off  on  the 29th of January 2024 – 2nd February 2024. During the course of the 74th graduation ceremony   a total of 12,913 graduands  received degrees and diplomas of Makerere University. Of these, a total of 132 graduands  graduated with PhDs, 1585 with Masters degrees, 11,016 with Bachelor’s degrees, 156 with postgraduate diplomas, and 24 with undergraduate diplomas.

53% of the graduands were female and 47% were male. In the category of PhD graduands, 46 were female and 86 were male. In the category of students graduating with Master’s degrees, 699 were female and 886 were male.

Students in jovial mode celebrate upon graduation. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Students in jovial mode celebrate upon graduation.

The graduation ceremony was presided over by the Vice Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.  Nawangwe  executed the role of Chancellor as provided for in the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act following the expiry of the tenure of Prof. Ezra Suruma as Chancellor.  The University Council commenced the search for his successor that was on-going.

CoCIS Commended for Noble Research in Artificial Intelligence to Solve Africa’s Problems

Reflecting on the May 2019 UNESCO conference on Artificial Intelligence and education in Beijing, China, the Vice Chancellor asserted the university’s potential and commitment to utilization of  AI to make a difference for Africa.

Prof. Nawangwe  reported that the  University through the College of Computing and Information Sciences in collaboration with the School of Public Health received a grant funding worth US$1,500,000 (5.5bn/=) from Google to support its Ocular project that is undertaking research on usage of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the diagnosis process of Malaria, Tuberculosis and Cervical Cancer in Uganda.

Launched on 13th September 2023, the project team led by Dr. Rose Nakasi benched on the rampant challenges faced by the laboratory experts while undertaking diagnosis procedures. Health centres in Uganda are not only strained with the escalating number of patients seeking for laboratory screening tests – the country has few trained laboratory technicians to support the diagnosis process using the microscope.

The research team according to the Nawangwe took advantage of the existing technologies such as the smartphone and the availability of at least a microscope in every health centre across the country to develop a 3D printable adaptor that was attached to an eye piece of the microscope. The 3D adapter was also slotted in the smartphone to capture images.

Some of the PhD Graduands on Day 3 of the 74th Graduation Ceremony. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the PhD Graduands on Day 3 of the 74th Graduation Ceremony.

With the capabilities of Artificial intelligence through computer vision, images can be processed and this directs the experts where the pathogens are. This technology shortens the diagnosis process making it more accurate, quicker and easier to diagnose health conditions and potentially reducing screening time by over 80%.

The Vice Chancellor also reported that in addition, researchers led by a second-year PhD student Paddy Junior Asiimwe designed a device to monitor elderly people with dementia and cognitive impairment in rural Uganda. The device, wearable by the elderly will monitor the patients’ movement and location and then signal the caretaker and the hospital in case of emergencies.

The technology funded by Government of Uganda through Mak-RIF was disclosed on 13th October, 2023. It monitors elderly people remotely using GPS technology which defines a safe zone around a user and a PDR system to monitor the position of the user within the safe zone.  This technology is cheap, and better than the systems existing on market, and is best recommended for more resource constrained environments. The system operates independent of the user mostly in rural areas who cannot read and write. It does not require electricity and runs on batteries, charged once a week and can run for 30 days.

Ms. Ilako Caroline who graduated with a PhD in Information Science smiles for the camera. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Ms. Ilako Caroline who graduated with a PhD in Information Science smiles for the camera.

Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted how university researchers lead by Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha has invented devices geared towards monitoring and  managing air quality across cities on the continent.

 “The AirQo Project, in collaboration with various partners launched the CLEAN-Air Africa Network on 5th April 2023 bringing together communities of practice from over fifteen cities in Africa, with a focus on utilising low-cost sensors for air quality management in Africa.

Prof. Tonny Onyana (Right), Assoc. Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha (Centre), and Dr. Swaib K. Kyanda (Left) sharing a light moment prior to the graduation ceremony. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Tonny Onyana (Right), Assoc. Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha (Centre), and Dr. Swaib K. Kyanda (Left) sharing a light moment prior to the graduation ceremony.

Held under the theme: Championing Liveable Urban Environments through African Networks for Air, the workshop served as a Launchpad for Africa-led collaborations and multi-regional partnerships for sustained interventions to achieve cleaner air across the Continent”, Nawangwe appreciated.

Five get the Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards 2023

During this third session ,  the Vice Chancellor recognized the best researchers listed and  published in the Graduation Booklet and the Mak News Magazine. The awards were based on Scopus database. The researchers were honored  by the  Vice Chancellor and Chairperson of Makerere University during the convocation luncheon held at  Makerere University Convocation House.

CoCIS  best researchers included.

  • Prof. Bainomugisha Engineer
  • Prof. Nabukenya Josephine
  • Nabende Peter
  • Professor Baguma Rehema
  • Odongo Eyobu Steven

Prof. Nawangwe urged all staff to continue conducting research on national development priorities as well as matters of global interest and publishing their work in high-impact journals so as contribute to our drive to become a research-led university. He also advised on the need for the research to lead to patents, copyrights and trademarks, and tangible innovations in the form of products, policy briefs, manuals and others.

Some of the graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 3, 31st January 2024, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences.

The Vice Chancellor highlighted a number of achievements recorded in the last two years including the timely issuance of the academic transcripts at the time of graduation.

In his key message to the graduands, Prof. Nawangwe described graduation as the most important and most memorable day in the life of any scholar on grounds that it is a licence to succeed in life, and a privilege to serve humanity.

“You have worked hard to get a degree or diploma from one of the best universities in the World. This is a license for you to succeed in whatever you choose to do in your life career. But always remember that success will only come with discipline and hard work, while honoring your parents and fearing God.

Shortly you will become an alumnus of this great institution. Cherish the knowledge and experiences you have collected while here, but remember that learning never ends. Our gates remain open for you if you wish to pursue higher degrees”, The professor advised.

With a degree from one of the best universities in the World, Prof. Nawangwe stressed, that graduates have no reason not to succeed in life.

“Indeed, the World is yours to conquer. If jobs are not forthcoming, create them, for we have empowered you not only to be employable, but also to be entrepreneurs. Be the light that others will follow. We are proud that we have been a part of your life, that we have given you the knowledge and courage to face life in this ever-changing World.  Go out to the World and make it a better place”. He emphasized.

View on CoCIS

Please find these and more in the Vice Chancellors speech attached.

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