Entertainment Africa
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) has rebranded itself as the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
The University’s new name was officially launched on Thursday at its Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth – just two days after the world celebrated the birthday of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela.
The launching of the Eastern Cape-based university was graced by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Advocate George Bizos‚ former Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, Chancellor Santie Botha‚ Vice Chancellor Derrick Swartz and Mayor Athol Trollip.
Speakers at the event urged the institution to live up to expectation. In his keynote address, Ramaphosa reminded the institution that its task has grown 20-fold and that a lot more is expected of it, now that it has been rebranded.
Former deputy justice Dikgang Moseneke said staff and students at the university now have a “responsibility to cherish and defend Nelson Mandela’s name” and “be true Madibas”.
The University SRC’s Pedro Mzileni emphasized that the new name of the university should not be abbreviated to NMU. He said nobody refers to Harvard University as ‘HU’ and encouraged the university community to follow suit.
Why The Change?
There are two prominent reasons why the institution changed its name. First and foremost, the institution wanted to position itself as an international university. Hence, why it dropped the word “Metropolitan”. The institution believes the clipping would allow it to rebrand itself beyond the geographical metropolis of Port Elizabeth.
Difficulty in pronouncing the name of the University was another reason. NUM’s outgoing vice chancellor Derrick Swartz affirmed that it was very difficult for many people from abroad to pronounce the name of the University, so it became a tongue twister.
This sentiment was also shared by some Twitter users.
Lol thank God NMMU is now Nelson Mandela University. That NMMU abbreviations was difficult to pronounce. You'd end up saying NMMMMMU aowa
— Nyamsoro 📿🌊 (@TheBlackElton) July 20, 2017
Our tongue twister is gone
From Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to Nelson Mandela University
— Keamo (@Sefularo_Keamo) July 20, 2017
A statement issued by the University said “The launch of Nelson Mandela University will not only be a celebration of the efforts to be named after this great leader, but of the university’s commitment to transformation and truly living out its values – which mirror those of Mandela – that includes Ubuntu, integrity, and respect for diversity.”
The cost of the launch event was R750,000 excluding “normal annual operational” budgeting for new signage.
It's official! We are now Nelson Mandela University. Halala! #NelsonMandelaUniversity #MandelaUniLaunch pic.twitter.com/qt3DEst146
— Mandela University (@MandelaUni) July 20, 2017
