VC decries Africa’s leadership deficit

University of Botswana (UB) Vice Chancellor Professor David Norris says Africa is faced with a challenge in quality leadership progression, applauding the Tertiary Students Leadership Summit for equipping student’s leaders with leadership skills to bridge the gap.

Prof Norris said this during the two-day Annual Tertiary Students Leadership Summit aimed at drilling student leaders in Gaborone on Tuesday. The summit was hosted by Graduate Training Academy in collaboration Bites Brain (PTY) LTD.

“A similar series of workshops in leadership amongst young leaders should be held on regular basis and not only at local setup but be done regionally across SADC or the entire continent at once. In Africa, we are dominated by rulers but not leaders because majority of African leaders currently don’t acknowledge people’s views; hence this is not leadership at all,” he said.

He said he is the product of the SRC together with other renowned public figures such as Dr Key Dingake; urging students to remain focused into turning into a crop of good leaders as well.

He pleaded with student leaders to refrain from engaging in bad practices such as corruption and maladministration.  

Organiser of the summit and local lawyer Kago Mokotedi said the initiative offers a platform for conversation, dialogue and self-evaluation of tertiary students in Botswana

Mokotedi charged that tertiary students are faced with myriad of challenges in Botswana and therefore said there is a need to equip the student leaders with necessary skills and tools to manage student issues amicably through positive dialogue and avoiding riots.

UB SRC president Mpho Molokwane hailed the initiative, noting that it will go long way in enlightening the SRC’s on how to handle disputes. He said it is important for the student leaders to join forces in dealing with issues that affect students through platforms that will encourage more advocacy and influencing policy for the betterment of tertiary students’ welfare.

The two-day leadership summit attracted student leaders from instituttions such as UB, Botho University, BIUST and GUC. Topics covered included tertiary education in Botswana’s Labour market and Student leaders and national contemporary issues.