Then I was Vice-Chancellor at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) Botswana Campus and my travels to Kuala Lumpur (KL) were frequent. The Year end 2014 visit was different. Tan Sri had called me in to bid fare-thee-well after I was appointed the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Upon arrival, I had found some Senior Lecturing Staff from LUCT Botswana Campus having been there for ‘training and tutoring’ which was a common feature of Tan Sri’ s leadership across the entire width and breadth of his 14 Campuses located in 3 Continents: Asia, Africa and Europe including the high-end West End in Central London. And he knew all staff Members in all these Campuses.
One good night prior to the departure back home of the Local Staff, Tan Sri had booked us into a top class, cosy and tranquil restaurant in KL. After absorbing in the opulent treat, we departed back to Cyberjaya, where Limkokwing Malaysia Campus is located. The following evening, I accompanied my team to the Airport. They were to arrive in Botswana about 3 days before Christmas Day, 25th December.
Believe you me, then there was no excitement that surpassed flying back home for the Christmas Holidays. Having studied for my Undergraduate, Graduate and Post Grad Studies in UK from 1990 to 2002, I can still feel to bear the excitement and vibe that goes with it. We would take the London Underground (Tube) Piccadilly Line at Russell Square all the way to Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4). The atmosphere would be ecstatic and electrifying. The bliss even caught up with those ‘students’ not travelling but only going to see their fellows off at the Airport. There is a storyline that one of the locals was banned from Heathrow as he enjoyed the ‘courtesy’ one-too-much too often. He would remain in Terminal 4 after other Batswana would have boarded the plane, and start boisterously singing and dancing to the Tswana folklore songs, his favourite being Speech Madimabe’s “Sebodu ke nnenekwane,…ke tshwere tswina wena o tshwere dinotshi, monate oo koo ke oo kwano…..”, to the annoyance of the travellers and transients.
Back at KL International Airport, as we were helping our colleagues out and they were ready for check-in, a phone rang. In hushed tones one quipped, “It is Tan Sri. Did we bid him farewell today?”….“Nope, we did yesternight over dinner”…. “But we should have bid him farewell again today”, the conversation ensued before taking the call. “Come for a meeting tomorrow morning at my Villa”, Tan Sri instructed in his soft commanding voice. And so it was, against any protestations the tickets were cancelled there and then. The ‘poor souls’ were inconsolable, devastated and broken-hearted. I could feel for them, but Tan Sri had spoken.
Tan Sri had a sophisticated way of doing his things, an open book; what you saw, was what you got. No wonder he was able to set up and run as many Tertiary Institutions Worldwide. It is no easy feat; it could only be achieved by a genius in the likes of Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Dr Lim Kok Wing.
In setting up LUCT Botswana Campus, Tan Sri contributed significantly to the transformation of the Country from a resource to a knowledge economy in support of the Country’ s development agenda. According to the World Bank, ‘knowledge economies’ are defined by institutional structures that provide incentives for entrepreneurship and the use of knowledge; skilled labour availability and good education systems; ICT infrastructure and access; and finally, a vibrant innovation landscape that includes academia, the private sector and civil society.
LUCT is strong in promoting Human Capital as the ‘Supply’ and more especially in the ICT enabling Sector and notably Media, Fashion and the Creatives to mention but a few. Human capital, driven by knowledge and innovation, can stimulate development of new and improved products and services, that the Country can harness and export, thus championing Government’s export lead growth strategy.
LUCT students are in the thick thanks to the Visionary Tan Sri, and the Institution is producing graduates that are not only job seekers but job creators as well. There should therefore be concerted efforts to assist these graduates to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) a United States Trade Act, enacted on 18 May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. AGOA has since been renewed to 2025 and it significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Another opportunity that is beckoning comes under the aegis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement which marks the dawn of a new era in Africa’s development journey. Over time, the AfCFTA will eliminate import tariffs on 97% of goods traded on the continent, as well as address non-tariff barriers. Our Institutions and Industry should link up to offer programmes that would result in new and improved products to take advantage of AGOA and AfCFTA. The time is now, and we can do much better than present!!
The setting up of LUCT Botswana Campus, plus other Private ETPs has led to an increase in Tertiary Education Participation (TEP) Rate and these Private ETPs can assist Botswana in reaching its set target of 26% by 2026 (I am making no insinuations on quality). Not only do these Private ETPs contribute towards skills development, nor direct formal employment of Batswana, they also contribute to the informal sector growth (SMMEs) if we are to consider the Education and Training Value Chain.
SMMEs have been recognized as important means in the economic growth of any nation by contributing towards gross domestic product (GDP), creating jobs, reduction in poverty, generating income and facilitating the nation’s wealth thus resulting in national development. These students have had to seek accommodation within the local communities thus contributing towards an increase in the housing market. In turn, there is inflow of capital into the retail, the transportation sector you name them, resulting in employment creation within the said and many other sectors as well.
Notwithstanding, there is still shortage of decent student accommodation in the Country, let alone Gaborone which provides an opportunity for citizen participation (as part of the Education and Training Value chain). Government has availed sources of Funding for the Citizens to partake, i.e. CEDA, NDB etc. This is an untapped business opportunity.
In sum, by setting up LUCT Botswana Campus, the Visionary Tan Sri has contributed immensely to the transformation agenda of the Country. Transformation is a journey, not a destination and with time, the Country will reap dividends. Back to the inconsolable lot at KL Airport, Tan Sri was able to facilitate their travel out, and they arrived right on time to enjoy Christmas with their loved ones. That was the larger-than-life Character that was Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Dr Lim Kok Wing. His name shall remain echoed in the annals of history. MHSRIEP.
