UDS To Confer Honorary Doctorate Degree On Former Mozambican President

The University for Development Studies (UDS) will on Saturday April 11, 2015 confer an honorary doctorate degree on the former President of Mozambique and Mo Ibrahim Prize winner Joaquim Alberto Chissano at a special congregation.

This would be preceded by a three-day lecture that began today Thursday April 9, 2015 and expected to climax on Saturday April 11, 2015 with the last of the three part lecture series and conferring of an honorary doctorate degree on Mr. Chissano. 

Mr. Chissano who arrived in Tamale yesterday, jointly addressed a press conference with the Vice Chancellor of UDS Professor Haruna Yakubu, Dr. Abdulai Salifu Baba, Chairman of UDS Council, Dr. A.B.T. Zakaria, UDS Registrar and Deputy Northern Regional Minister Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini.

The ceremony, according to Dr. Salifu, was the third edition of the UDS African Leadership Lecture programme, organised annually to seek the perspectives of former African heads state on governance, leadership and development.

Mr. Chissano would deliver lectures on three different topics. They include (i) The evolution of the strong visionary leadership of the frontline states and its contribution to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa; (ii) Reflection on leadership, good governance and development in Africa; and (iii) leadership and conflict resolution in Africa.

It is the conviction of the UDS that African leaders have the opportunity and the resources to transform the continent by pursuing prudent scientific and development policies as well as nurturing indigenous talents.

The University also holds the view that, African leaders can transform their individual nations and the continent by recognizing and harnessing the contributions of experts and individuals inside and outside their national universities.

Mr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano

It believes that, in Africa’s quest to achieve internal integration and become a key player in global affairs, there is the need for deep reflection on the sort of leaders the continent requires. The continent, it indicates, requires innovative leaders and thinkers who will drive its development and growth.

The African Leadership Lectures is therefore a platform to subject the issues of leadership and development in Africa to the required critical thought. The lectures intends to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development; facilitate and create an environment for a discourse and action on leadership; create a forum to inspire positive and innovative leadership initiatives as well as stimulate and initiate a platform for an action on constructive leadership in Ghana and Africa.

Since leaving the presidency Mr. Chissano has assumed the role of elder statesman and has campaigned for peace through his work as an envoy and peace negotiator for the United Nations.

On December 4, 2006, the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Mr. Chissano Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Northern Uganda and South Sudan, to resolve the conflict with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

On Mr. Chissano's 68th birthday in 2007, he was awarded the inaugural US$5 million Prize for Achievement in African Leadership by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. He received the inaugural Mo Ibrahim Prize for his achievements in bringing peace, reconciliation, stable democracy and economic progress to his country following the 16-year civil war which lasted until 1992. The Prize also recognised the major contribution he made outside his country’s borders.

According to the award's judges "Mr Chissano's decision not to seek a third presidential term reinforced Mozambique's democratic maturity and demonstrated that institutions and the democratic process were more important than the person".