TANZANIAN President Samia Suluhu Hassan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be bestowed with the honour. President Hassan arrived in India on a four-day visit on Sunday. She has been awarded the honorary degree for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism. Hassan, the first woman President of Tanzania, went down memory lane to share her journey -- from being born in a humble family in an African village to becoming the President of her country. “The world says there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad,” she said in her acceptance speech. “I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest.

 

This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India the incredible India,” she added. Hassan noted that India has always been a shoulder to lean on in the struggle against colonialism. The event was attended by Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar. “Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar. Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to east Africa along the maritime route for trade and commerce.

 

Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides,” Jaishankar said. IIT-Madras’ first offshore campus is set to be inaugurated in Tanzania’s Zanzibar early next month, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. The Minister also said the Centre is encouraging top skill development institutions in India to go to Tanzania and other African countries. He said he will be visiting the African country for the pivotal role it is playing in promoting education. India is implementing the new National Education Policy, the foundation of which is built on the pillars of access, equality, quality, affordability and accountability.