Our Security personnel received instructions on where to park cars, vans and buses for this big occasion.
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny! Having represented Nebraska Wesleyan
University at the Inauguration of the new President at Ripon College a couple
of years ago, I was a bit familiar with all the pomp and circumstance that
surrounds this kind of historic event!
Most chairs designated their expected occupant, and the AU choir sang their hearts out while everyone gathered.
The tents were in place on the grass between the
Administration building and the Library.
And we were instructed to be in our seats by 8:30 am. Promptly at 9:00 am the colorful procession
of academic staff in their gowns and hoods began, followed by all the Faculty
Deans, invited speakers, AU Board Members, and Professor Munashe Furusa. The AU Choir were seated under a smaller tent
on one side of the platform, and business and government representatives on the
other side. Forty-three family members
were recognized!! (And later I had the privilege of meeting Prof. Furusa’s
mother ~~ very proud, indeed, of her son’s accomplishments!
The Keynote address was given by Prof. Tawana Kupe, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Witwatersrand University in South Africa. Prof. Kupe had been one of Prof. Furusa’s
lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe some years ago! The new VC was described as a person who is
curious, intelligent, consistent, methodical, objective, well trained,
complicated, and a student who paid attention to his studies and got the job
done! His accomplishments include being
the first in his family to attend university, and to earn an MA and Ph.D. During the 15 years he worked at California
State University, Dominguez Hills, Prof. Furusa held many positions, is an
esteemed scholar and prolific writer. He
was extremely successful in bringing education and businesses together by
establishing public/private partnerships which provide incredible internships
and job opportunities for students.
Prof. Kupe challenged the VC to help AU rise to the
challenges of the global community, and to recognize the achievements of others
and build on them.
Lunch was served in various parts of the campus for all
attendees and guests.
At the Inaugural Dinner Sat. evening at the Golden Peacock,
the Foundation for Evangelism donated an endowed chair for the Faculty of
Theology, named for Prof. John W. Z. Kurewa, Founding Vice Chancellor! By the end of the evening over $25 million
had been donated by well-wishers, friends and guests for a new girls’
dormitory!!! What a wonderful way to end
a very significant day in the life of Africa University!!
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