By Maile Matsimela
There were ululations at Boeketlong Lodge in Jane Furse, Limpopo, when graduates from the Tompi Seleka Agricultural College were conferred with diplomas on Thursday.
The event was also graced by Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Nakedi Kekana.
The ceremony aimed to honour and acknowledge the commitment and hard work of both the college management and the students as they embark on their careers.
About 46 graduates were recognised for their dedication and perseverance in achieving academic qualifications in animal and plant production.
Graduates Lerato Nkadimeng and Reshoketswe Raletjena were awarded as the best candidates in plant and animal production respectively, with Raletjena also receiving the overall winner award.
In his congratulatory message, Majela Mashiloane, rector of the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, reminded graduates to serve as ambassadors for the college.
Acting Head of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mpho Mashamba, emphasised that the department reaps the “fruits” of its work and envisions these graduates becoming tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and job creators.
In her keynote address, MEC Kekana encouraged the graduates to use the skills they had acquired to advance agriculture, address food security, create job opportunities and combat poverty. She also noted that through the Unemployed Graduate Programme, the department is committed to absorbing graduates for skills development and strengthening their practical training in the agricultural sector.
The Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture is a centre of excellence in imparting technological knowledge and skills for a sustainable agricultural sector. It is fully accredited by the Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA), which partners with the department in agricultural education and training programmes, including funding, capacity building and student bursaries.
