Why top Indian university has picked Samia for honorary PhD

Dar es Salaam. Almost one year since the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) conferred an honourary doctorate on President Samia Suluhu Hassan in recognition of her transformation of Tanzania’s education sector, the economy, democracy, and gender, among others, a prestigious Indian university will bestow on her similar honour this week.

The President, who began on four-day state visit to India yesterday, will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Jawaharlal Nehru University tomorrow, Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister January Makamba said yesterday.

The degree was in recognition of President Hassan’s efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Tanzania and India.

“The Jawaharlal Nehru University has decided to confer an honorary doctorate on our President due to her achievements in the diplomatic sphere, specifically economic diplomacy, and achievements in accelerating people-centred development in Tanzania,” Mr Makamba, who has accompanied President Hassan to India, said in a statement that was made available to The Citizen yesterday.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University also decided to confer the honorary degree on President Hassan due to her achievements in the promotion of regional integration, strengthening international relations and in the promotion of multilateralism at the United Nations, among others, the minister added.

Ranked as one of the top universities in India and the world in general, the Jawaharlal Nehru University prides itself for being a higher learning institution where several prominent Indian nationals went to for their tertiary schooling.

Established in 1969 and named after India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, some of the notable names that attended the university include India’s current External Affairs minister, Mr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

“So in short, it is great honour to see that our President is recognised and respected even in other nations for the good job she continues to do and for her great contribution to the strengthening of international relations,” said Mr Makamba.

Data released at the weekend by Mr Jaishankar during a meeting with Mr Makamba shows that bilateral trade between the two countries now stands at $6.4 billion. This puts India on the list of Tanzania’s top three trading partners.

Data from the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) shows that as of the 2021/22 financial year, Indian companies were implementing a total of 630 new investment projects worth $3.68 billion.

During her visit to India, President Hassan is expected to seal a deal for the setting up of a health facility in Tanzania, where kidney transplants will be conducted.

Mr Makamba revealed that Indian investors are expected to open a state-of-the-art hospital in Tanzania that will offer kidney transplants and thus significantly reduce costs associated with the treatment for Tanzanians and citizens of neighbouring countries alike.

They will also open a facility that will manufacture vaccines and drugs for humans and animals.

President Hassan will also meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a state banquet to be hosted by her Indian counterpart, Ms Droupadi Murmu.

President Hassan will tomorrow be awarded a second honorary doctorate since coming into office in March, 2021. In November last year, the UDSM Senate to conferred on her an honorary PhD (Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa).

Speaking during the university’s 52nd graduation ceremony, the UDSM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof Bonaventure Lutinwa, said an award similar to that conferred on President Hassan is usually given to a person who has been characterised by a display of the best learning in humanity and social science in general.