Nearly 2000 Graduands at the NUL 49th Graduation Ceremony

Nearly 2000 undergraduate graduands received their credentials at the recent National University of Lesotho 49th Convocation for the Award of Certificates, Diplomas and Conferment of Degrees in a week-long ceremony which started on Tuesday, 8^th October, 2024.

The split activities of the ceremony were held both at the Roma campus and the Institute of Extra-Mural Studies (IEMS) Maseru campus on various days.

At this colourful event, University staff, students and parents / guardians celebrated the achievements of students from the seven faculties and one institute, namely:

1. Faculty of Agriculture
2. Faculty of Education
3. Faculty of Health Sciences
4. Faculty of Humanities
5. Faculty of Law
6. Faculty of Science and Technology
7. Faculty of Social Sciences
8. Institute of Extra-Mural Studies (IEMS)

The first day was dedicated to the Official Opening of the Convocation by the NUL Chancellor, His Majesty King Letsie III. After the official speeches, Faculty-specific ceremonies began with the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Education on the first day. Other Faculties and IEMS followed on the subsequent days with IEMS being the last on the 12^th October, 2024 at the IEMS Maseru campus. All the subsequent events were officiated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Olusola Fajana. Throughout the week, the university maintained a schedule of two faculties per day (except for Faculty of Social Sciences and IEMS), with each day celebrating the unique accomplishments and specialized achievements of the graduands.

The Netherlands hall was filled to capacity with graduands. To accommodate the overflow of parents and family members who accompanied the graduands, an extension outdoor area was set up and equipped with large screens streaming the proceedings live from inside the hall. This arrangement (outdoor screens) allowed parents to witness every speech, every name call, and every degree conferred and every diploma awarded, as if they were right inside the hall. By providing outdoor viewing areas with high-quality screens and sound systems, the university aimed to keep the ceremony inclusive.  Besides, all the activities were streamed live online on the NUL Facebook and YouTube pages.

The convocation week not only highlighted the graduates’ achievements but also reinforced NUL’s commitment to fostering an environment where education serves as a tool for social transformation and national development. Each ceremony was infused with a sense of pride and hope, as graduates prepared to embark on their professional journeys, contributing to Lesotho’s development in meaningful ways.

Each faculty invited a distinguished guest speaker who brought unique insights and words of motivation tailored to the soon-to-be graduates. These inspirational speakers provided a memorable bridge from academic life to the world of work; empowering the graduates to embrace their next journey with confidence and purpose. All the guest speakers painted a vivid picture of the opportunities and challenges awaiting the graduands before joining the workforce and life in general.