Embrace creativity, graduates told

Oct 28, 2016

At least 400,000 Ugandans graduate each year at various public and private universities

In today's world it is not enough to have a bachelor's degree or even a master's degree when you lack values, creativity, innovativeness and skills.

This is according to Prof Anthony Mugagga Muwagga , an associate Professor at Makerere University.

Mugagga made the comments on Wednesday at Nkumba University where he was a guest speaker during the university's 17th Commencement lecture.

"A degree is the bare minimum, it is a launch pad to the world and if anything it is just a paper. In the current world you need to be creative and innovative to standout or else you will keep lamenting," Muwagga said.

At least 400,000 Ugandans graduate each year at various public and private universities, but few of them get employed.

"Ugandan graduates have proven to be the most stupid, it is them that are being ferried to the Middle East to work as maids, askaris and some end up being enslaved there. They even die and never return," he said.

He said majority of the university students are highly learnt but they lack innovation and it's the reason they are unemployed.

"Six out ten graduates fail their first interviews and lose their first job in Uganda, because they take things for granted and have gross stupidity. With fertile soils, peace and good weather you should be doing more," Muwagga said.

Youth unemployment in Uganda stands at 62% representing 4.5 million of 7.2 million youths

He wondered why most graduates cannot make it practically in their professions yet they have studied.

kumba deputy vice chancellor rof ilson ande chats with rof uwagga at the event hoto by eoffrey utegeki Nkumba deputy vice chancellor Prof Wilson Mande chats with Prof Muwagga at the event. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

 

tudents perform a traditional dance during the ceremony hoto by eoffrey utegeki Students perform a traditional dance during the ceremony. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

 

"In Uganda, a business graduate would fail to start up the smallest business and an agriculture graduate cannot even own a rabbit. People who never went to school own businesses even in your school compounds, but for you who has a degree you are dying in poverty," Muwagga said.

He decried the ever declining service delivery in the country, yet more people have been educated.

"There are more graduates now than in the 1970's but service delivery has completely gone down. We have more health workers, more engineers but the quality is down, why?" Muwagga asked.

Prof Wilson Muyinda Mande, the deputy vice chancellor, noted that the tradition of holding the lecture is one way of preparing graduates in the jobs world.

"It is very important because it helps them get to know what awaits them. Besides getting qualifications and other rewards it is important to get ideas on what lies ahead," Mande said.

Every year, the university holds the lecture ahead of the graduation ceremony.

"The important aspects, that everybody wants in addition to skills is creativity and being innovative so that you stand out of this competitive world," Mande said.

He noted that every individual has the potential of being creative and innovative and what is needed is mind-set change.

Tendo Nagayi, a law student commended the University for arranging the lecture where they received all the guidance into the world ahead.

On Friday, Nkumba University will hold its 19th graduation ceremony where over 1700 students will graduate in various fields.

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