A South Sudanese Student Shines at the Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe
By Mabil Manyok Nhial, Gweru, Zimbabwe
Saturday, October 13, 2018 (PW) — As John Maxwell has it, it has always been my credo that leadership is nothing more than knowing the way, showing the way and leading the way. Harare Institute of Technology was thrown into a woven net of leadership showdown as four students locked their horns in a great duel contesting for SRC President, which is equivalent to guild president.
The morning Sun greeted Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) with blissful rays of glee and gaiety that the University vicinity got tranquilized. Everyone including inanimate beings seemed zealous and voracious in alacrity to cast their votes for the candidates of their choices as their volitions dictated. Among the contenders were three male students and one brave female namely; William Deng Akuei Nyuon, Makoni, Aaron and Remhunga.
From the onset of elections, Mr. Nyuon was exceedingly marathonic, in fact he ran at a breakneck speed which created a terrible gap between him and his contesters. He was more than 200 votes ahead of the second competitor. Voting ended after 5pm and William garnered 342 votes, Remhunga got 116, Aaron with 74 votes and Makoni 19 votes. Deng then became victorious.
Deng contested as an independent candidate. Other contestants got their tickets from their respective parties. He was fully backed up by Team Pan Africa led by Potential student leaders inter alia Moses Kat, who pursuing a bachelor of Chemical and Processing Engineering. All South Sudanese students as well as local native students were rallying behind Akuei and this flourished his fort of victory.
Deng Akuei was born at Makol Chuei, Baidit, in Bor. He laid his academic foundation in 2001 at Thian-wei Primary School, former Anyidi Payam. He then proceeded to Baidit Primary School, where he completed his SCPE. Upon completing his SCPE in 2009, he then joined Alliance High School, which is the most prestigious secondary school in Bor, though it is argued that Bor College has her legs in the same trousers with Alliance High School.
At Alliance High School, Deng passed with flying colours in 2013 and undoubtedly got a place when he applied for a scholarship to Zimbabwe. He was given Electronic Engineering, which has always been his dream course. He is currently in his fourth year, which is indeed the wane of the course.
As John Quincy Adam has it that “A leader is one whose actions inspire other to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,” almost all the students of Harare Institute of Technology endorsed him and enchanted behind him with a mantra of “MAKING THE FUTURE!” It was quite unbelievable since it is a naked fact that a foreign student rarely becomes a guild president. However, Akuei is not perceived to be a foreigner as he believes in the spirit of Pan Africa ideologies. They deem him to have fully defined what it means to be a leader. Hence, they voted him as their voice.
Leadership has been at the doorstep of Eng. Akuei. He is currently the President of International Students, a body of students from other nations, which is a separate entity from SRC (Student Representative Council). He is also the Speaker of the South Sudanese Students’ Association at HIT. He is adulated as a great gentleman with intellectual refinements. It is therefore these leadership credentials together with unswerving support by the most notable students that vaticinated his triumphant victory.
It is pertinently worth mentioning that another South Sudanese, Ojja Emmanuel also emerged as an MP from the faculty of Biotechnology.
“Leadership flows in almost all South Sudanese students. Your colleagues and you have visibly shown it here at MSU as your other colleagues from other Universities have proven the reality of the matter. Keep it alive!” A friend from Mozambique told me as we chatted.
The results were not announced as voting ended at late hours. Nyuon was therefore declared the winner on Saturday morning.
The writer is a fourth year student pursuing a Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree at Midlands State University and can be contacted at johnmabilmanyok@gmail.com
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