In recognition of the country being part of the global society and the ever-changing world, CPUT graduates were challenged to think globally.

“Think globally but act locally,” ICT magnate Nirvesh Sooful told graduates this afternoon during the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.

Sooful, who is Chief Executive at African Ideas, delivered an inspirational talk about his company’s successes in the face of misgivings from prospective funders and consumers of its projects.

The guest speaker encouraged graduates to develop new solutions to the problems of the country and the continent.

African Ideas is a strategy and innovation company focusing on the continent whose services include strategy planning, disruptive innovation in relation to the impact of digitization across society.

He argued that while education is good it is not enough as graduates need to make what they learnt their own in order to be successful.

He added that change is certain and that the graduates should embrace it as it comes and decide how they are going to adapt to it.

“Learn continuously, because you can never learn enough,” he advised.  

“More of the same doesn’t work, we need new solutions to the existing problems.”

Hundreds of graduates were capped as they awarded diplomas and degrees, but the following graduates stole the spotlight for their outstanding academic achievements.

Anthony Jioke Ezeonwuka (BTech: Internal Auditing) walked away with the VC’s Medal, while Dean’s Medals went to Bashierah Marais (ND: Office Management and Technology) and Abdullah Salie (ND: Real Estate).

News of CPUT’s extraordinary alumni can be found in our Grad Mag 2016.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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CPUT graduates were encouraged to adopt the values of ubuntu leadership style when interacting with their customers, colleagues and fellow citizens.

“Ubuntu leadership style requires putting the people first, it’s based on the realization that I am a leader because of my followers,” said Andile Sipengane, acting CEO of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority.

Sipengane was the guest speaker at last night’s graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.

He said that the country was in dire need of servant leadership with a heart.

He argued that leadership, or its lack thereof, was at the core of the challenges facing the country.

“More than ever before we need to go back to the principles of ubuntu, you need to have integrity, empathy, care,” he said.

He added that leaders represent the aspirations of their follower and organizations.

He encouraged graduates to have a positive attitude and keep a smiling face at all times.

“When your followers start drifting away from you it’s because of your attitude,” he said.

He observed that some leaders often see followers just as staff members or numbers but argued that people are a core fiber of leadership.  

This morning will see hundreds of graduates in the Faculty of Engineering being capped.

News of CPUT’s extraordinary alumni can be found in our Grad Mag 2016.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The world and South Africa is ready for graduates who will make a positive change on all spheres of life.

Nazeer Khalfe, who addressed graduates at the Faculty of Applied Sciences graduation on Monday morning, urged the class of 2016 to not look at life through the lens of only wanting high paid jobs and material items, but to respond to all the challenges facing the world and South Africa.

“The world and South Africa are out of shape,” says Khalfe.

A member of the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Educational Movement, Khalfe says the various challenges facing today’s society can only be addressed through the development of innovative, extraordinary and radical solutions.

Khalfe challenged graduates to think out of the box, take up leadership roles and to shape and bend South Africa in such a way that it is good for all.

The following awards were conferred during the Faculty of Applied Sciences ceremony:

Vice-Chancellor’s Medal: Kudzanai Nyamayaro (BTech Chemistry)

Dean’s Medals: Mubeenah Ahmed (ND: Consumer Science) and Selena Eunice Orango Adewinogo (ND: Analytical Chemistry)

News of CPUT’s extraordinary alumni can be found in our Grad Mag 2016.

Written by Candes Keating
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