Why Mzumbe University awarded President Samia honorary doctorate

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership by Mzumbe University, marking the sixth honorary degree awarded to her since assuming office.

Before this recognition, the Head of State had already received five honorary doctorates in various disciplines from universities within and outside Tanzania.

Unlike the previous five awards, Mzumbe University's honor was granted based on her exemplary leadership, as highlighted by the university's Vice Chancellor, Prof William Mwegoha.

He commended President Samia for being a role model in leadership both domestically and internationally.

Her earlier honours were conferred by the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, Ankara University in Turkey, and the Korea National University of Aviation.

This latest recognition is also historic, as it is the first honorary doctorate ever awarded by Mzumbe University since its establishment.

Speaking during the university’s 23rd graduation ceremony in Morogoro on November 24, 2024, where President Samia served as the guest of honor, Prof Mwegoha explained that the decision to honor her was made after carefully evaluating her contributions over the three years of her leadership.

“This doctorate serves as recognition of her (President Samia's) efforts towards sustainable development in Tanzania and beyond,” said Prof Mwegoha.

He further noted that President Samia made history as Tanzania's first female Vice President and later as its first female President.

Under her leadership, he said, significant achievements have been realized, making her a deserving recipient of the honorary doctorate.

Head of Mzumbe University’s Dar es Salaam campus, Prof Cyriacus Binamungu, elaborated on the rationale for awarding the honor, citing President Samia's leadership successes across various sectors, including health, education, infrastructure, diplomacy, the economy, and democracy.

He highlighted her three-year tenure as President, during which she introduced the R4 philosophy—Reconciliation, Resilience, Reform, and Rebuilding—that laid a foundation for good governance, the establishment of the Criminal Justice Task Force, and other transformative initiatives.

“These are just a few of the milestones achieved under President Samia’s leadership,” Prof Binamungu noted, emphasizing her dedication to improving the welfare of Tanzanians.

Mzumbe University Council Chairperson Saida Yahya Othman also described the conferment of the honorary doctorate as a unique milestone for both the recipient and the institution.

She emphasized that this was Mzumbe’s first honorary doctorate and underscored its significance in recognizing a sitting Tanzanian President, who is also an alumna of the university.