Excitement is building at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) as the institution prepares to host its highly anticipated 31st graduation ceremony. The event, set to be one of the most memorable in the university’s history, will see 2,504 graduands receive their academic accolades, with the distinguished honour of being capped by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who serves as the Chancellor of NUST.
The campus is alive with anticipation, with graduands and their families filling the corridors and grounds, eager for the ceremony that marks the culmination of years of hard work. For many, the event is not just an academic milestone, but a moment of pride and achievement to be shared with loved ones.
Among the graduands are prominent figures in business and industry whose achievements extend far beyond academia. Notably, Mr James Ross Goddard, founder and director of J R Goddard Contracting (Private) Limited, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil and Water Engineering Honoris Causa in recognition of his exceptional contributions to civil engineering and national development.
Mr Goddard, a construction tycoon who established his company in 1982, has overseen projects that have shaped Zimbabwe’s infrastructure landscape. His firm specialises in earthworks, civil construction, and infrastructure development, employing over two thousand permanent staff and completing more than 240 major projects over forty-four years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation, Mr Goddard expressed his deep gratitude for the honour. “I am truly amazed by this recognition. I am grateful to the people of Zimbabwe for honouring me with this award. I am at a loss for words — it is truly humbling,” he said.
He reflected on the work his company has done across the country, including the construction of over 170 dams, numerous roads, and other critical infrastructure. Among the notable projects are Mpande Dam and Mtilashokwe Dam in Beitbridge, Bembezaan Dam in Kwekwe, Rusitu Dam in Chipinge, Nabu Arch Dam in Insiza, How Mine Dam in Bulawayo, Biri Dam on the Manyame River, Mteri Dam at Hippo Valley, and Lucilia Poort Arch Dam at Unki Mine in Shurugwi.
Mr Goddard has also played a pivotal role in the extension of Mater Dei Hospital and the development of Hopeville, an upmarket suburb in northern Bulawayo. His company remains deeply engaged in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, with projects including the Eureka Gold Mine for Dallaglio, producing approximately 170 kilograms of gold per month, and the Ngezi Zimplats South Pit Extension Project, which mines up to 700,000 tonnes of waste and ore per month.
NUST’s 31st Graduation Ceremony: President Mnangagwa to Cap 2,504 Graduands Amid Celebration of Excellence
President Mnangagwa’s presence at the graduation ceremony underscores the national importance of the event. As Chancellor of NUST, his role in capping the graduands is both a ceremonial honour and a symbolic affirmation of the value placed on education in Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
In his remarks ahead of the ceremony, the President is expected to celebrate the graduates’ achievements and encourage them to apply their knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic transformation. The event will also recognise the role of NUST as a leading institution driving innovation, science, and technology in Zimbabwe and across the region.
The 31st graduation ceremony promises to be a momentous occasion not just for graduands but for the entire NUST community. Among those to be honoured alongside Mr Goddard is Mr Busisa Moyo, chairman of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and a renowned industrialist, who will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership for his contributions to commerce and industry.
For the graduands, the ceremony represents the reward of perseverance, discipline, and academic dedication. For families, it is a day of pride, marking the passage of loved ones into the professional world armed with skills that will contribute to national growth.
As Zimbabwe looks toward the future, the graduation ceremony at NUST is a reminder of the critical role of education in nation-building. The conferral of honorary degrees to leaders like Mr Goddard reflects the university’s recognition of the interplay between academic achievement and practical contributions to the country’s infrastructure, industry, and economy.
For the 2,504 graduands set to walk the stage, the occasion is the culmination of years of study, a celebration of achievement, and a stepping stone toward careers that will shape Zimbabwe’s development in the years ahead.
With President Mnangagwa poised to confer their degrees, the 31st NUST graduation ceremony will stand as both a celebration of personal accomplishment and a reaffirmation of education as a national priority.
Source- Herald
