PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has been conferred an honorary doctorate degree by India’s top-ranking learning institution, Lovely Professional University (LPU), in recognition of his contributions to socio-economic development, which have greatly impacted the global village. Over the last four years, President Hichilema has received about six honorary doctorates and awards in recognition of his leadership, economic reforms and commitment to democracy. Just last month, Copperbelt University awarded Mr Hichilema with an honorary doctorate degree in science mining, while ZCAS University conferred on him an honorary doctorate degree in effective leadership. On August 15, 2024, the University of Zambia awarded President Hichilema with an honorary doctorate of business administration. Heriot-Watt University of Scotland crowned the head of State with an honorary doctorate on June 20, 2024. In his invitation, LPU founder and chancellor Ashock Mital said Mr Hichilema can go for conferment in India at his convenient time. This came to light when African Nations Prosperity Fund president and founder Tresford Chomba and his vice Alice Kapesa visited LPU. The purpose of the visit was to sign a memorandum of understanding that will see over 200 Zambian students study at LPU on a full-time basis under the Nelson Mandela African Presidential Scholarships. In his invitation, Dr Mital praised and thanked President Hichilema for his contributions to various socio-economic development endeavours. Dr Mital, an accomplished Indian billionaire and businessman, and a Member of Parliament of the Upper House of India, said Mr Hichilema deserves the honour. And speaking in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dr Chomba congratulated President Hichilema on this honour. He said LPU only confers such doctorate degrees on deserving Presidents and prime ministers, and not any other person below those positions. Dr Chomba also said his other organisation, Zambia Farmers Inputs Cooperative Union (ZFICU), has secured fertiliser whose one litre covers one hectare. He said this will enable farmers to save about K500 compared to when using other types of fertiliser. Dr Chomba said the fertiliser will help small-scale farmers graduate to commercial producers. He thanked the Ministry of Agriculture, which has already granted ZFICU an import permit to bring in thousands of metric tons in Zambia well before the planting season.
India’s Top Ranking University , Confers President Hakainde Hichilema with a Honorary Doctorate
