Nthatuoa Koeshe
THE late Limkokwing University of Creative Technology founder, Dr Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Limkokwing, “touched lives in many beautiful ways”, the university’s human resources executive, Lintle Hlapisi Leseli has said.
Ms Leseli said this during Dr Limkokwing’s memorial service at Victory Hall in Maseru last weekend.
Dr Limkokwing died aged 75 on 1 June 2021 in Malaysia.
Ms Leseli said Dr Limkokwing transformed Lesotho’s educational culture through technology.
“Since 2008, his vision has created employment opportunities of over 400 Basotho and his name will always linger in our hearts and his legacy will live on,” Ms Leseli said.
Best known for his love for art, creativity and innovation, Dr Limkokwing was nicknamed “Father of Innovation” and his university has so far produced over 8000 graduates.
Dr Limkokwing founded the Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology in 1991. It soon became the first private institute to be recognised as a university in 2002 and was renamed the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology with students from over 150 countries in its 12 campuses namely Botswana, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lesotho, eSwatini, United Kingdom and Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the memorial service, Limkokwing University registrar, Moroka Hoohlo, said it was important to continue with Dr Limkokwing’s legacy.
“Our president has fallen and we, as the staff and students of Limkokwing University, now have to believe in ourselves to carry on with his legacy.
“Dr Limkokwing was a great leader and pioneer of an education system that is based on creativity and innovation. He believed that industry-based education was crucial in the economic development of a country and he challenged all to believe in making the impossible possible despite the dominance of other international agencies,” Mr Hoohlo said.
Dr Limkokwing’s son, Dato Timothy Limkokwing, said his father’s dream for Lesotho could not have been realised without the government’s clarity of vision.
“We are deeply proud of the opportunity to contribute to Lesotho’s development and future,” he said.
“The team remains committed to Dr Limkokwing’s dream and we will do whatever we can, however long it takes to continue building upon the foundation he left us.”
On his part, Education and Training principal secretary John Oliphant said Dr Limkokwing brought education for development to Lesotho.
“We are thankful to the former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili for his thoughtfulness and vision in bringing Limkokwing to Lesotho,” Dr Oliphant said.