Kenya alumni celebrate 150 years of excellence and pledge support for Unisa

Unisa Kenya Alumni Chapter gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel Upper Hill to commemorate the university's 150th anniversary

Unisa is celebrating its 150^th anniversary with alumni worldwide. Recently, the Kenya Chapter held its event at the Radisson Blu Upper Hill hotel to mark the occasion.

The event provided a platform for the alumni to come together, network, and share their experiences. The newly elected convenor of the Unisa Alumni Kenya Chapter, Dr Dorca Stephen, opened the event by encouraging alumni to participate in the activities and projects planned for 2023.

Stephen introduced a plan to establish a Kenya Legacy Scholarship to help deserving students from Kenya complete their degrees. Alumni were encouraged to bring their expertise, time, and donations to assist those in need. The initiative received widespread support from the alums, who recognised the value of giving back to their alma mater.

Frankie Mojapelo, the Acting Director of the Unisa Foundation and Alumni, reiterated the words of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, who emphasised that the alumni are an integral part of the history and legacy of the university. Mojapelo highlighted alumni's critical role in advancing the university's mandate and acknowledged their intellectual and financial contributions.

"As we celebrate this historic milestone, we also want to reaffirm our commitment to our core mandate of teaching, learning, research, engaged scholarship, student academic support, and resourcing the future," Mojapelo said. He added that the university's mandate is not limited to the education sector only but must also shape growing democracies across the continent as well as Africa's development ambitions as articulated in our long-term vision and plan – Agenda 2063.

The Unisa alumni in Kenya left the event feeling inspired and energised. They recognised the importance of their role in advancing the university's mandate and reaffirmed their commitment to their alma mater.

The event was a reminder of alumni's valuable contributions to the university's growth and development. It also provided a platform for the alumni to come together, share their experiences, and build networks that will benefit their personal and professional growth.

*By Cilla Boucher, Alumni Relations Officer, Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations