THOHOYANDOU - The conferring of a Doctor of Philosophy degree on the family of the late Bethuel Mudzanani will be the highlight of University of Venda's graduation ceremony to be held today (Friday).

Univen will confer certificates, diplomas and degrees on successful graduates at a graduation ceremony which will take place on 17 and 18 May 2002 at the Univen Auditorium. The first session and second session on both days will start at 09:30 and 14:00 respectively.

Dr Eddie Maloka, Executive Director of the Africa Institute of South Africa and Professor Selby Ripinga, a Member of Parliament who also serves as Convenor of the Sub-Committee on Higher Education, the Committee on International Relations and as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Education and a committee on Trade and Industry, will each give a keynote address on Friday and Saturday respectively.

The most important highlights of this ceremony will be conferring of a Doctor of Philosophy Degree on Bethuel Mudzanani posthumously and the conferring of the first degrees ever in nursing under the School of Health Sciences.

The late Bethuel Mudzanani, who was an Afrikaans lecturer at the University and a qualified lawyer, passed away last year before the degree could be conferred.

To mark the achievement in the School of Health Sciences, there was a lamp-lighting ceremony on Wednesday, 15 May 2002 at 12:00 at Univen's Council Chambers. The lighting ceremony was aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the School of Health Sciences and the Provincial Department of Health. Ms M Zwane, Provincial Director Nursing Services in the Department of Health, will address this ceremony.

The University spokesperson, Mmbangiseni Masia, said they were proud to be producing graduates who will go out and contribute in solving problems that face this region and the entire country.