It was ululations and dancing as 417 students graduated with certificates at Makerere University under the Love Binti program. Of these, 415 were women.
The university partnered with Love Binti International to offer certificate training to students that required the education.
The students graduated from three different branches of Love Binti International, including; 177 from Makerere University branch, 145 from Harvest Church, Kabalagala and 95 from the mobile branch which us currently located in Kikaya.
The graduands have been trained in three major areas Including; Tailoring, Entrepreneurship and Health Education.
Speaking at the Graduation, Mr Joseph Wakuleke, the Executive Director of Love Binti International, Makerere Chapter said the program has trained over 1180 students since its inception in June 2018. Majority of these are female students.
“At Love Binti International, we prioritize empowering women, to help them become self-sustaining because an economically health empowered woman is a gate pass to collective development,” he said
As they empower women, the program, Wakuleke said has opened doors to men who also want to benefit and develop skills.
“Our strategy is to empower a girl child through provision of skills, provided in three modules; tailoring, entrepreneurship and health education, which are all compulsory because we realized most of the diseases that disturbing our home steads are avoidable,” Wakuleke emphasized.
At a function held at Makerere University Freedom Square on Saturday, the excited gradaunds shared moments of joy and danced as they sung in praises for the almighty.
The graduants, who had been accompanied by their parents thanked the University and Love Binti International for thinking about the under privileged groups of women and young men who had failed to study, due to tuition constraints.
In this three months program, Love Binti International paid all the tuition and gave the beneficiaries materials to use during training.
In her remarks, Elle Yang, the Director of Love Binti International thanked the graduands and management for being resilient especially during the two years of lockdown.
“The two years were crazy, classes were halted but you stood firm and peacefully waited and here we are,” she said.
“I want to thank you for the basic skills you have learnt and implemented. We were discussing if students should really pay tuition and chose to agree with the guest of honor that really students do not need to pay tuition but just bring materials to help their smooth learning,” she added.
Adding her voice to Yang’s remarks, Taiwan based Sara Liu, the Chairperson of Love Binti International urged Graduants to practice what they have learnt to better their lives.
While officiating at the Graduation, Dr. Twine Bananuka, the Dean School of Distance and Lifelong Learning at Makerere University appreciated the efforts brought by Love Binti International, which are partly helping Makerere realize some of its objectives, like being a people centred University.
“What we are doing here today is what defines a people centered University. We are delivering education to all Ugandans,” he said added.
“From what we are seeing here (innovations), you have shown us that you are professionals. I am happy that the program deals with women empowerment and as Makerere we have done our part,”
Promoting women empowerment through entrepreneurship, health and skills development, he said are among the gears of economic development.
“Government is emphasizing the Parish Development Model and as Makerere University we are now stakeholders in ensuring the success of this program so I implore you to go and participate in it,” he said.
“Go flourish, work and change your lives, families and the whole world,” he concluded.
