SENATOR Dr Stukie Motsa has described her conferment with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Humanitarian Governance and Advocacy as a reaffirmation that ethical leadership, integrity and service to humanity still matter in public life.
The honorary degree was conferred during a ceremony held at The George Hotel in Manzini yesterday, attended by the Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Savannah Maziya, Senator Dr Linda Nxumalo, members of the Gideon Robert University council and faculty, as well as other distinguished guests.
Dr Motsa told attendees that the honour strengthened her resolve to continue advocating for governance systems rooted in fairness, dignity and accountability, stressing that leadership should always be anchored in service rather than power or personal gain.
In her address, she said she accepted the honorary doctorate with humility, emphasising that she did not regard it as a personal achievement alone, but as recognition of the collective efforts of individuals and communities committed to justice and inclusion.
She praised Gideon Robert University for promoting ethical and humane education, stating that learning institutions had a responsibility not only to confer qualifications, but to shape conscience and character.
According to Dr Motsa, humanitarian governance and advocacy are lived responsibilities that demand leaders to govern for people, not convenience, and for justice, not power.
Reflecting on her years in public service, she said she had learnt that true leadership listened before it spoke, served before it demanded and protected before it presided.
She added that advocacy required the courage to stand with those whose voices were ignored, while governance required the discipline to turn compassion into policy and action.
Dr Motsa, who is widely recognised for her advocacy for the rights and welfare of people with albinism, said her work had consistently been guided by the belief that leadership must be measured by its impact on the most vulnerable.
She dedicated the honour to her family, colleagues, mentors and the communities she serves, as well as humanitarian workers operating in under-resourced and often unseen spaces, saying their efforts embodied the values the award sought to recognise.
As she accepted the doctorate, Dr Motsa said she did so with renewed commitment to advocate boldly, govern responsibly and serve humanity faithfully, urging leaders to build systems that uplift the vulnerable, protect the marginalised and leave no one behind.
