Seychelles Nation - 20.09.2008
The Seychelles University Foundation marked its first anniversary on Tuesday by honouring those who have so far contributed to its coffers, including those making pledges that night.
Each donor whose contribution adds up to R1 million or more was given a trophy and a certificate by the university foundation’s chairman, Dr Rolph Payet, during a ceremony at the Wharf Hotel and Marina.
Vijay Patel of Vijay Construction became the first co-founder of the university when he pledged R10 million for the development of the information technology section of the university.
Mr Patel said he found the idea of a university fantastic immediately President James Michel announced the project.
“Education, as we all know, is the key to everything,” he said, adding that on a personal level education has changed his life.
“What better opportunity than this to support something which concerns the whole nation?” he asked.
The company managing director said he had been discussing his support for the foundation with its officials.
“On behalf of my company, Vijay Construction, it is my pleasure to participate in the University Foundation at the highest level of R10 million,” he said.
“We will work with the trustees to develop the IT (information technology) house which, as you have already heard, is the main component of the university. We will do it under the motto Let’s Work Together. So I extend my hand to the chairman and say Let’s Work Together and get this project up and running.”
Dr Payet said: “We at the foundation are very excited about this announcement and it’s good to set the bar higher.”
He told Mr Patel that his name will go down in the annals of history as having contributed to the foundation of the university.
Mr Patel becomes a co-founder of the university and will have the option of naming a building on the campus or having a portrait of his choice displayed in its Hall of Fame.
After the announcement, Dr Payet asked previous and potential contributors to consider “going back to the drawing board”.
Airtel contributed R1 million through its chief executive Vinod Sud, who pledged his company’s support for the university now and in future, saying the mother company in India had no hesitation in doing so.
He said Airtel is deeply involved in promoting education efforts in India.
“Education is the best asset any society can give the young people,” he said, adding he is looking for “some campus environment soon”.
Joe Albert pledged R1 million in construction materials, saying doing so was a great pleasure for his group of companies – Inter-Island Boats, Creole Travel Services, United Concrete Products Seychelles and Creole Holidays.
“We’ve followed, we’ve noticed and we became excited,” he said, stressing the value of a good foundation.
“The idea of a university is something we need to take very seriously. We need to prepare our youth to face the fast-growing world, and Seychellois must learn to stand on their own feet.
“It is the duty of those of us who have the torch in our hands to do what we can,” he said, adding his companies’ contribution was only a small token.
“The engines of UCPS will be behind you all the time to support you,” he told Dr Payet.
Dr V. Ramadoss launched the second lottery, which will be drawn one week before Christmas with a top prize of R1 million. He said 20,000 tickets have been printed offering a chance for another Seychellois to become a millionaire.
He thanked employees of his company Interlotto, who he said worked very hard to make the previous lottery a success.
He also said he will launch the university’s faculty of medicine, which will meet international standards.
Dr Ramadoss, who is chairman of the university foundation’s fundraising committee, gave the first R1 million to the fund earlier and was therefore presented with a trophy, as was representative Andre Esparon of Nouvobanq, which had also contributed R1 million.
Dr Payet thanked Relations Studio, a group of musicians who contributed R11,000, which they collected from a show they hosted to raise money for the university.
Names of individuals and groups who have contributed to the university were displayed on screen during the ceremony and appear on the foundation’s website: www.sufoundation.sc
Among those present at the celebrations were former President James Mancham, Minister for Community Development Vincent Meriton and Minister for Employment and Human Resources Development Macsuzy Mondon.
Also present were a number of principal secretaries, many of whom were featured on screen as contributors, and other supporters.
Members of the diplomatic corps also enjoyed the ceremony.
