Mr Ramasike, Deputy Chairperson of the SBL board, hands over the MBL Board Medal Award to Mrs Elnari Hough
“I want to argue with you tonight that if you want to move beyond success and excellence to greatness, you have to match individual achievement with the greater achievement of your communities”. Said Ms Tantie Fubu, guest speaker at the recent Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership graduation dinner at Velmore Estate, Pretoria West.
This prestigious occasion was held in honour of the SBL’s DBL, MBL and MBA graduates to celebrate their achievements on successfully completing their studies.
Ms Fubu, a Chartered Accountant who boasts a B Admin Hons, B Comm Accountants’ Conversion Course, a Higher Diploma in Banking Law, a Certificate of Proficiency in Short-term Insurance amongst others, themed her talk as: “Graduating: A call for individual greatness in building an excellent society.” “Indeed you need to celebrate yourselves. South Africa needs to celebrate you. So, savour the moment but not for a moment too long; because you have a responsibility by the sheer success that you have achieved.” She told graduates that they were a beacon of hope and inspiration for many communities. “May you realise that as long as we have poverty, vast sections of our people being uneducated, young children dying of malnutrition and diseases that are easily treatable, you are not yet at the summit.”
In his address, Prof Mandla Makhanya, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor told graduates that only 7% of the world’s population has a post school education and that the participation rate in higher education in South Africa is currently around the 18, 6% mark. “What we aim to achieve at Unisa is a calibre of graduate that has high levels of what I like to call ‘graduateness’ – qualifies that will ensure their success and progress in their careers.” He said that “graduateness” includes competence, enthusiasm for one’s field of interest and expertise, and an ethic of honesty, integrity and hard work.
During the event, certificates were awarded to students who attained the highest achievements in the following categories: Field Study (MBL and MBA), Research Report (MBL and MBA) as well as the MBA and MBL Board Medal Awards for overall best academic achievement. Mrs Nondzondelelo Lamula received the MBA Field Study Award and the MBL Field Study Award was handed to Mr Anthony Harris. The MBL Best Research Award was shared by Mr Graham Smit and Andrew Murray and Dr Layla Cassim was awarded the MBA Best Research Award. The MBA Board Medal Award for the candidate who attained the best academic achievement was shared by Mr Anthony Harris and Dr Layla Cassim. The MBL Board Medal Award was awarded to Mrs Elnari Hough.
Mr Ramasike, Deputy Chairperson of the SBL board quoted Anne Frank in his congratulatory statement: ”Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” He urged graduates to invest in their potential, to bring about change, contribute to our future, the future of our children and the future of our country and our continent.
Prof Valiant Clapper, CEO and Executive Director of the SBL concluded the event by “saluting” the graduates as well as their families for their courage and perseverance. He said that graduates must now go and apply the excellent qualification in leadership they have attained by being excellent leaders.
Celebrity MC, Bongani Bingwa carried the guests with flair throughout the evening and guests were entertained by the Afro Tenors and the Madison Square Band.
