Prof Brian Figaji installed as CPUT Chancellor

CPUT celebrated the installation of Prof Brian Figaji as the new Chancellor of the institution during a ceremony at the Bellville Campus last night.

Figaji is the third Chancellor of CPUT and served as Vice-Chancellor of Peninsula Technikon from 1995 to 2004, guiding the university before its merger into the newly formed CPUT in 2005.

The event was attended by various CPUT stakeholders, dignitaries, including Mireille Wenger, the provincial Minister of Health and Wellness, CPUT honorary doctorate recipients, Marlene le Roux and Prof Anthony Staak, vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors of other institutions, friends and family of the Chancellor and other invited guests.

In his inaugural address Figaji reflected on his journey and expressed his gratitude to those who helped him along the way.

“As I was thinking of my life’s journey to where I am today that old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ rang loudly in my head and it allowed me to reflect on the impact and influence that my parents, my wife and children, my extended family and friends, my colleagues, my students and my faith had on shaping me as a person.

“The many opportunities that others created for me were extremely valuable in my personal growth, and I thank all those who in any way contributed to these opportunities.”

His address was strongly centred around values and he called on the institution to consider being more intentional with the inculcation of values as it develops ethical leaders amongst all the students.

“It is not enough to adopt a set of values that we hang on the wall and print in booklets for passive reading. No, it requires a plan of action that may well require resourcing and drive from the very top of the organisation.

“It is this intentional education on values that will enable CPUT to produce ethical engineers, ethical scientists, ethical business leaders and ethical educators that will all help to change our society for the better. This will distinguish CPUT and identify it more uniquely as a very special institution within the South African higher education landscape.”

Messages of support were delivered by Dr Laurine Platzky, (Council),  Issa Mapukata (Convocation) Prof Joseph Kioko (Senate), Dr Clement Matasane (Institutional Forum), Liyabulela Gela (SRC) and Johnny Basson (Labour)

Platzky said: “We are delighted and honoured to welcome you back to this campus. You understand our growing pains, you recognise our stretch marks, and you appreciate our progress and our maturity. You embrace our commitment to ethical leadership.”

CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said Figaji’s institutional memory means he understands the culture and people of the university.

“On behalf of our past and present students and the legacy institutions I extend a heartfelt thanks to Prof Figaji for his lifelong commitment to advancing education for the South African youth,” he said.

Watch the full ceremony here.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za