Suza honours President Samia with doctorate for tourism promotion

Dar es Salaam.The State University of Zanzibar (Suza) awarded President Samia Suluhu Hassan with an honorary doctorate on Thursday, for her exceptional contributions to promoting the tourism industry in the country.

This is her third honorary degree in the past 12 months.

The prestigious Tourism Management and Market degree was bestowed upon President Samia in recognition of her recent efforts, including the impactful Royal Tour documentary and her previous achievements as Minister for Tourism in Zanzibar.

The ceremony, held at the university's 19th graduation ceremony, was attended by various dignitaries, including the Chancellor of Suza and President of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi.

This marks the third honorary doctorate for President Hassan in just two months. In October, she received an honourary doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru University of India, becoming the first woman to be awarded this honour for her role in strengthening India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy, and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism.

Last year, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) also recognised her contributions to education, the economy, democracy, and gender equality in Tanzania by awarding her an honorary doctorate.

Expressing her gratitude, President Samia dedicated the latest honour to tourism stakeholders and expressed special appreciation for the guidance she received from former Zanzibar President Aman Abeid Karume.

She acknowledged her past efforts as tourism minister, highlighting how she aimed to bring development through international tourism promotion.

"I receive this award for all Tanzanians who continue to give me encouragement and cooperation," she stated.

"But I also thank former President Aman Abeid Karume, who enabled me to bring about the tourism reform in Zanzibar, so I am standing here because of his support."

President Samia also emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between research and decision-making in the education sector, urging researchers to ensure their findings reach those who can implement them for the benefit of society.

She further stressed the need to embrace technology in education.

President Mwinyi, in his address, commended the university for the increased graduate numbers in the 2022–23 academic year, showcasing a 9 percent rise compared to the previous year. He reiterated the government's commitment to investing heavily in education, ensuring access to loans for students, and equipping graduates with the necessary skills to thrive in the competitive job market.

President Mwinyi also highlighted Suza's participation in the Higher Education Economic Transformation Project, urging the university's management to utilise the allocated resources effectively to align its programmes with the needs of the market and society.

He emphasised the importance of continuous investment in education and adapting to curriculum changes to prepare graduates for the evolving world.