The Durban University of Technology conferred an honourary Doctor of Technology Degree in Engineering and the Built Environment to struggle veteran Jay Naidoo for his contribution to the area of the built environment and his untiring commitment to community welfare issues this afternoon (September 3, 2013) during the second session of the University’s Spring Graduation ceremony.
Naidoo, the Chairperson of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) received his honourary doctorate at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, DUT Steve Biko Campus, at 1pm where he urged the current generation to fight for what his generation fought for, which includes, among others, quality education for the South African masses. Headquartered in Geneva, GAIN is a public-private partnership that brings together United Nations (UN) agencies, private businesses, philanthropic organisations, governments and civil societies around practical programmes in 30 countries worldwide. The organisation is committed to addressing malnutrition which currently affects two billion people in the world.
Speaking about his earlier life, Naidoo said he felt, as a young boy, that the apartheid system stole his human dignity, which aggravated him because as it made him feel inhuman. This was until he met the late Steve Biko, an experience which changed his life as well as his outlook on the situation of oppressed people at the time. He dedicated his honourary doctorate to Biko, whom he met during his days as a SASO member which was banned in 1977 just after its leader (Biko) was murdered in police custody. He also dedicated the award to his mother who taught him that “skin colour is only skin deep”.
Naidoo also highlighted that some of the greatest lessons he learnt were from the people who were rejected by the rich as “uncivilised”.
“It is those people who have the most wisdom and that is how my generation fought the language of the oppressor. Now is time for the young generation to fight for what our generation fought for,” he said. Naidoo also spoke about former President Nelson Mandela’s ill health, passing his message of support to the former statesman’s family.
After having to forfeit his studies at the then UDW in 1976 to fight for his country, Naidoo acknowledged DUT for closing his cycle of education 35 years later.
– Mbali Madlala
Pictured: Jay Naidoo as he receives his honourary Doctor of Technology Degree in Engineering and the Built Environment at DUT
