Service is Better than Ego, Minister Musenero Tells Graduates at Ndejje.
In my 32 years since I graduated from University, I have discovered that service is better than ego. The Minister for science and technology, Dr. Monica Musenero has given words of wisdom to outgoing Ndejje graduates during the 26th graduation ceremony in Bombo district where the main campus settles.
This year’s theme for the graduation is “Bearing fruits that abide,” drawn from the book of John 15:16. The theme that emphasizes the University mandate, as a Christian based Anglican University to not only bear fruits that abide but also to bear good fruits through the products that they nurture, their services to the students, community outreach and wider society.
The Minister, being the chief guest, said on Friday that as they gather to set off 1067 students, of which 433 (40.6%) are females and 634 (59.4%) males with 44 obtained first class degrees altogether, to the world of work, that they should also know about fruits which do not last, because when someone embodies egoism, they only think about themselves, and that the whole world should rotate about them, especially liberal ones who are going out in the world.
“Let us be people who are sweet and attractive, so that people can get to the scent. So whenever I see this, these are the things that I talk about to be fruits, that will abide, that will grow from generation to generation. So this issue, of bearing fruits, is a theme of the kingdom of God. I am sure that these graduates have gone through the academic programs at Ndejje University, therefore we have also nurtured them spiritually, so that as they go out, they become builders of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the salt that makes life worth living. It gives others light to see where they're going, and if your fruit will last, then that is going to be a great contribution to the kingdom,” said Minister Musenero.
She, however, added, many of the people do not think about these things when they are young, and as they navigate through life, they embody things that make them very restricted. “If you are a fruit that lasts, even if it starts one, that seed that is in there, or seeds, they will lay, and they will become dominant.”
She also described that she has discovered that there are many times she had to give up her rights to be right for the sake of the better good. I have learnt not to be presumptuous, don't think that things are the way you think. “When we were growing up, we hardly said rude words to people. These days, people presume, because they are on social media, they can abuse people, and nobody will know.”
I used to think that such habits are coming from village people, but many times, after investigating who is this, who is abusing, you only will discover that the person doing so is a graduate. So make sure that you don't do that, she advised.
About the issue of Laziness, the minister inquired from the Vice Chancellor if the graduate's programs contain content to do away with laziness. Many people in the nation think that laziness is comfort. The Bible tells us that a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a thief in the night, she explained.
Commenting about the University developments , the Vice ChancellorVice Chancellor Rev.Canon Prof Olivia Nassaka Banja indicated that a directorate of research and innovations organized a second annual research symposium at Kampala campus on the 18th of July, 2024 under the theme “science and innovation for enhancing sustainable productivity,” where 80 papers were presented and over 20 exhibitions showcased, from different faculties and departments to the attending audience of about 300 participants.
New ideas demand, which are being transformed into prototypes to support mechanization efforts, more especially in the agriculture sector and engineering works, they continue to work with their communities to disseminate the knowledge through technology transfer strategies, she added.
“Our students and staff have also continued to utilize new emerging technologies and provide solutions to the communities. And in that process, an app, online app, was launched to curb gender based violence, and this is meant to provide a confidential and effective way to address instances of gender based violence and provide confidence for both staff and students to offer a safe environment through a seed grant that has been provided for the second year.”
Both Ndejje University students and staff have been able to bring out some of these innovations, which are being built in the exhibition tents.
Nassaka, implored members present to visit the exhibition tents to first see what students display. The Faculty of Environment, Agriculture and Science have also today exhibited organic pesticides and organic herbicides that control weeds and alternatives to protein and bio fresheners.
We also have an Energy Research Center which continues to produce safe energy products, and these are also available in full. Briquettes, the line and the business students are also showcasing their products, she noted.
Eng, Dr. Henry Ntale, Dean faculty of engineering mentioned, the engineering sector which he is conversant with still has spots as the market is not flooded, and there iss a dificit of about 5000 people, therefore the country shall need many more engineers and should strive to reach expectations to produce others.
However, these engineers must be job creators and not seekers because if two or more get together they can develop something great and solve the unemployment issues, he indicated.
“We want to create an innovation hub whereby the prototype done by students is taken into a commercialization process and the technology can be availed to the markets for commercial gains and to also assist in solving problems to the communities.”
The Head of Research, Development and Innovation team at the same Faculty, Mr. Roice Bwambale who is also an expert is Environmental Sustainability and Engineering said that the theme of the remarkably distinguished exhibition during the graduation was engineering the Future for Sustainable Communities.
The faculty is mobilising efforts to ensure most of the ground breaking technologies can be upscaled by willing industrial and development well wishers through partnerships with the research centers and innovation hub of the engineering faculty.
There were tecnologies like A banana Peeler Machine, Air treatment biofilter, the Dual Chair-Bed Tech, Plastic to Fuel Tech , Green Hydrogen Production , the Ndejje Univeristy Navigation Maps and much more, he included.