LIMKOKWING University Eswatini has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the legacy of its late founder and president, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr Limkokwing.
His main philosophy was mainly about being different.
Speaking during the Founder’s Day celebration at Sibane Sami Hotel, Campus Director Tfobile Gumede described the event as a tribute to a man whose life and work transformed global education through creativity, innovation and compassion.
She said the university owed much of its success to the ‘fearless creativity’ of its founder, whose vision has inspired generations of learners across continents.
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Limkokwing University began in 1991 as the Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology in Malaysia, initially offering programmes in design, multimedia and communication.
By 2007, it had evolved into a fully-fledged university and expanded its footprint to seven countries, including Cambodia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Namibia.
Eswatini became part of the Limkokwing network in 2010 through a memorandum of agreement with government, marking the establishment of the country’s first private university.
Since then, the institution has reshaped higher education through its creative approach and commitment to community development.
Beyond education, the university continues to reflect its founder’s philanthropic spirit through initiatives such as the Heal the World Foundation, which focuses on transforming lives through education, donations and community service.
The foundation has provided scholarships, food parcels, and Christmas gifts for orphanages, while also supporting projects for people with disabilities.
Gumede noted that the late founder’s compassion extended well beyond the classroom. His philanthropic work included raising awareness on homelessness, drug abuse and HIV, while also producing public service films like ‘The Trap’ and ‘Take the First Step’, both acclaimed internationally for promoting social awareness and peace.
Globally, Limkokwing’s humanitarian vision materialised through the Limkokwing Foundation for Creativity and Innovation, launched in 1998 with the goal of transforming 100 million lives by providing access to tertiary education for disadvantaged youth.
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The foundation’s efforts earned Dr Limkokwing recognition from world bodies, including the World Federation of United Nations Friends, which honoured him in 2017 for promoting peace through education.
The university later joined the United Nations Academic Impact initiative, deepening its involvement in global humanitarian work through campaigns such as Heal the World with UNICEF.
His legacy of compassion has continued to thrive across Africa, with students from the Lesotho campus recently leading a project to refurbish the Malibuseng Orphanage Home, embodying the principle of healing communities through creativity.
Among his more than 730 awards and honours from governments and global institutions, the most notable remains South Africa’s highest national honour, the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, presented in recognition of his role in strategising Nelson Mandela’s presidential campaign and supporting the end of apartheid.
In Eswatini, his impact remains visible through numerous community initiatives, including setting up a laboratory at Mzimpofu, hosting Christmas parties for orphanages, providing wheelchairs for the disabled, and awarding scholarships to disadvantaged students.
A true friend of the continent
COUNCIL board member Mbongeni Mbingo, who is also the acting Managing Director of the Eswatini Observer, described the founder as a true friend of the continent, whose work created lasting opportunities for generations.
He said Dr Limkokwing was a transformative figure whose vision reshaped education across Africa, during Limkokwing University Eswatini’s Founder’s Day celebration.
Mbingo highlighted Dr Limkokwing’s early involvement in South Africa, where he contributed to Nelson Mandela’s ‘A Better Life for All’ campaign, producing 60 tonnes of billboards that promoted unity and hope.
Mandela himself acknowledged the effort as a demonstration of “true friendship and solidarity with the people of South Africa.”
This, Mbingo said, was the beginning of Dr Limkokwing’s enduring connection to Africa, which he saw not through the lens of challenges but of immense potential.
The university’s expansion across the continent—from Botswana and Lesotho to Sierra Leone, Namibia, Uganda, and Nigeria—was testament to his mission to unlock Africa’s talent and empower the youth through education.
Mbingo noted that in Sierra Leone, the university mobilised efforts during the Ebola outbreak, with former president Ernest Bai Koroma recognising it as a “worthy partner” in the nation’s crisis response.
Mbingo emphasised that the founder’s impact is evident in the achievements of Limkokwing graduates, whom he described as job creators, industry leaders, and a living legacy of Dr Limkokwing’s vision.
From creative multimedia to architecture, technology, and entrepreneurship, alumni are equipped with world-class skills and an entrepreneurial mindset that continues to influence industries and communities.
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