The Rector of Unizulu Addresses Staff and Students at 2008 Consecration Service

Mike Khuboni


The Rector, Professor Rachel Gumbi, led the colourful academic procession in the searing noon heat to the University Chapel where students and personnel had gathered to participate in the 2008 consecration ceremony and to hear the Rector’s New Year Message. Rev. M. Makhanya of the Anglican Church who is also Unizulu’s Master’s Theology student opened the proceedings with a prayer and set the tone for the ceremony.

Addressing a packed W.Gcabashe Chapel, Professor Gumbi acknowledged and thanked the first year students for making the University of Zululand their first choice in furthering their careers. She also thanked the student leadership and personnel who had contributed enormously towards ensuring stability at the University since the beginning of the year. She made it clear that students and personnel should be tolerant of cultural diversity as the University had the responsibility of producing knowledge and thinkers amidst individual differences. She also emphasized the critical role of all faculties to offer proper programmes that were capable of contributing toward the new millennium goals – that of producing job-makers rather than job-seekers. She pointed out that the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled for 2008 stood at 9500 in total.

In her closing remarks, Professor Gumbi reminded both students and personnel that in order to be successful, they had to be hard workers and passionate in everything that they do. She pointed out that this philosophy of life was neatly encapsulated in the University’s motto: “Diligentia Cresco,” which simply translates to “By diligence I grow.”

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