Yesterday, my colleagues and I decided to drive from Johannesburg to Gaborone. In fact, they did this in solidarity with me, as I wished to retrace the route I took when I first came to your beautiful country as a young, commissioned, hair product salesperson back in 1983. 

Back then, Botswana was still a relatively young country with, I recall, one set of traffic lights and one simple hotel in downtown Gaborone.

Many things, everything, has changed since then. When I say things have changed, I mean impressive, unprecedented, change over the last 40 years. 

Together with my wife, Connie, we established Black Like Me, our own hair care company, in 1985 with a loan of R30,000 from Walter Dube, a well-known black businessman in Mabopane who believed in us. 

We issued the first invoice in the name of Black Like Me on Valentine's Day, 14 February 1985. 

There was a very good reason for sending out the first Black Like Me invoice on Valentine’s Day, but that will be a story for another day. 

In case some of you are beginning to speculate, my wife, Connie, and I had already been married for about three years when we launched Black Like Me and issued that first invoice. 

My marriage to Connie was one of the best decisions I made as a 22-year-old. Family stability is a critical ingredient to building a successful business. It became, to this day, the foundation upon which all our family success is anchored. 

I am therefore grateful, each passing day, to God for the wisdom in stabilising my life through my wife, now of 43 years.

Today, 41 years after that first visit to Botswana, I stand before you as a successful Black-African businessman who chose to turn to politics - not to seek fortune, as too many others tend to - but to be part of the drive to bring about desperately needed socio-political and economic changes in my own country, South Africa. 

Our country had enormous potential at the end of Apartheid and the attainment of democracy in 1994. 

Led by the globally admired Nelson Mandela, South Africa turned from a pariah nation to a beacon of hope for the entire African Continent, Africans in the vast diaspora, and others around the world who supported the fight to end the inhumane system of Apartheid.  

So, inspired by lessons from my grandfather, who raised me to believe in myself – my father had died when I was only two years old - I started a hair care business at the age of 25 to escape having to work for uncaring bosses.

Mind you; I started my business career at the height of the evil system of Apartheid, which prescribed for me and for people of my race the path they wanted us to follow – to basically remain mere vessels and suppliers of cheap labour. 

30 years following the founding of Black Like Me, confronted by the spectre of a country whose vital institutions were crumbling right before my eyes, I accepted a Democratic Alliance (DA) invitation to be elected as Executive Mayor of Johannesburg. I was 56 years old when I became Executive Mayor on 22 August 2016. 

Amidst what we refer to in South Africa as growing levels of “gatvol ness” - a term that I can best translate as “disgust” - the DA identified me as the best-suited person to spearhead a political takeover of Johannesburg to enable us to undo the damage of many years of ANC abuses and neglect. 

That decision marked my entrance into the South African political arena. 

I remained Executive Mayor of Johannesburg for three years before I resigned in October 2019; following the conflict with the DA on my uncompromising stance to also provide services to poor communities, a resignation that culminated in the establishment of my current political home, ActionSA.

We are a Party born following a public consultation process that confirmed the need for such a political formation. 

Today, as I stand before you, ActionSA, now a 4-year-old political party, is represented by 101 public officials in all 3 spheres of our government, including 6 respected members of parliament in our National Assembly. 

One of them, a rising political star, Ms Lerato Ngobeni, is right here with us. 

ActionSA also co-governs several local municipalities around South Africa.

Since last week, we now also lead the coalition government of the Tshwane Metro – the seat of our national government and base for the diplomatic community in South Africa - with an ActionSA Executive Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya.

So, ladies and gentlemen, especially the students who are here to graduate following several years of hard work, here I am today, 41 years following that first visit to your beautiful country, to address you as someone who is a living example to the saying that hard work really pays off. 

To you, dear Graduands - Today marks a significant milestone not only in your individual lives but also in the journey of this great institution and the country. 

As we celebrate the 42nd Graduation Ceremony of the University of Botswana, we are reminded of the words of Malcolm X: "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."

That future we are talking about today, was long prepared 42 years ago when Batswana from various walks of life came together under the banner of Motho le Motho Kgomo, to contribute whatever they could, including cattle to build this University of Botswana, also known as Mmadikolo, Mother of all Universities. 

It is an accomplishment you must all be proud of. 

Today’s theme, as we gather here, is: Reimagining Education as a Driver for Mindset Change. The theme, distinguished guests, is both timely and critical as we look towards a future not only of Botswana but Africa as a whole.

As we reimagine this future, let us be reminded that today, education is not just about acquiring knowledge. It is about transforming how we think, approach challenges and create solutions for a better tomorrow.

Graduands, Ladies and gentlemen – According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population Report 2023, with approximately 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, Africa has the world’s youngest population. 

The World Bank's Africa Pulse Report also reports that as of 2023, the continent's total population stood at over 1.4 billion, meaning there are around 840 million young people across Africa. 

By 2050, Africa's youth population is projected to grow even further, solidifying its status as a global hub of human capital. This demographic shift aligns with initiatives such as Agenda 2063 which emphasizes harnessing this youthful potential for Africa’s sustainable development.

Not only is this youthful demographic a challenge but an opportunity for the continent, as it has the potential to drive economic growth, innovation and development if adequately supported with education, skills and job opportunities.

As we align with Africa's Agenda 2063 and Botswana's Vision 2036, we must rethink how education can shape the mindset required to achieve not only sustainable but inclusive development.

Graduands, Ladies and gentlemen – Agenda 2063 envisions an Africa that is prosperous, integrated and driven by its own citizens. 

I must therefore urge you to take note of what the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024) offers. 

This initiative under Agenda 2063 focuses on using science, technology and innovation to address social and economic challenges in Africa. 

It promotes the development of research ecosystems, encouraging the continent’s best minds to generate scientific breakthroughs in areas such health, agriculture and energy, especially as many countries are busy rolling out various levels of their Just Energy Transition (JET) to reduce their carbon footprint. 

In addition to that, the African Union (AU) Research Grants Program funds projects that foster scientific collaboration across Africa, focusing on addressing continental challenges. 

The program also strengthens research institutions and encourages capacity-building in areas critical to the continent’s growth, such as agriculture, water management and climate change.

For these initiatives to become a reality, we need graduates who not only possess technical knowledge but also the mindset to innovate, collaborate and lead. 

Africa must invest in education systems that promote a shift from dependence and passive learning to self-reliance and active problem-solving with the aim of empowering individuals to create solutions for the continent's challenges. 

As such, our education systems, both at individual country level and at a broader African perspective, must empower individuals to see challenges not as barriers but as opportunities to create the Africa we all desire.

I am happy, therefore, to learn that the University of Botswana’s transformative process, as it transitions into a High-Performance Organisation (HPO), underlines research as a cornerstone upon which Botswana’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy is anchored.

This is commendable given that Africa’s transformation demands building robust institutions, fostering local innovation and encouraging research that is relevant to the continent's developmental trajectory. 

Above all, it means training the next generation of researchers, thinkers and entrepreneurs who can tackle issues such as climate change, food security, health and economic growth from an African perspective.

I urge you to take advantage of the Pan-African University (PAU), which is a network of African higher education institutions that promote advanced graduate training and research in key areas aligned with Agenda 2063. 

PAU is particularly designed to produce a new generation of African leaders and researchers who can drive sustainable development.

I am also informed that with Vision 2036, Botswana aspires to be a high-income economy driven by appropriately skilled and educated human capital. We cannot underestimate the central role that education plays in this endeavor. 

Through such initiatives, we need to cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning, critical thinking and adaptability. The future belongs to those who can continuously learn, unlearn and relearn to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. 

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that education, when reimagined, can empower Batswana to achieve the four pillars of Vision 2036: Sustainable Economic Development, Human and Social Development, Sustainable Environment and Good Governance.

To conclude – dear Graduands, ladies and gentlemen – it would be remiss of me not to talk about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 on quality education.

Let us make sure that our education systems prepare students to be global citizens who are equipped to address challenges such poverty, inequality and climate change in response to all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

By reimagining education as a catalyst for mindset change, we are not just preparing graduates for jobs but for leadership in building a sustainable future for Botswana, Africa and the world.

I say to the graduands, therefore, that in a world that is changing at an unprecedented pace, your education, your passion and your ability to adapt, will be your most powerful tools. 

You are stepping into a future that demands agile minds, innovative thinking and a deep commitment to contribute to and leave a legacy for society. 

The knowledge and skills you have acquired are not just for you - they are for Botswana, for Africa, and for the global community.

As we look to the future, we see the rise of our continent as envisioned in Africa’s Agenda 2063, a blueprint for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse. 

This is your moment to play an instrumental role in the realization of that vision, for you are the next generation of leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs who will guide Botswana and Africa towards sustainable growth, peace and prosperity. Africa and the world await your active participation in their continued development!

Once again Congratulations to all the graduands today!

Our eyes will be on you as