Mogae has a degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, and then he furthered his study at the University of Oxford. He became a civil servant on his return to Botswana and following that, he took up a post with the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana.

He became a vice-president of Botswana between 1992 and 1998. His Botswana Democratic Party, managed to retain power in the 1999 general election and Mogae was sworn in for a five year term as president vowing to fight poverty and unemployment.

Mogae was retained for another term after winning the second general election and this time around he also pledged to stop the HIV-Aids as well as poverty and unemployment.

He stepped down as President on April 1, 2008 and was succeeded by vice-president, Ian Khama. Mogae was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion d honneur by the French President, Nicholas Sarkozy on March 20, 2008 for his “exemplary leadership” in transforming Botswana as a model of democracy and good governance.

President Mogae on Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology opened its first campus in Botswana in May 2007. It is the first private University to be set-up in Botswana and only the second university there, the first being a public university.

Mogae played a pivotal role in relishing and inviting the Limkokwing University Botswana to be set-up, in a bid to help the country’s move towards industrialization and modernization.

Commenting on the opening of the Limkokwing University in Botswana last year Mogae said: “I am indeed greatly encouraged by Limkokwing’s investment in Botswana. The pace that you have established yourselves in recent months is a reminder to all of us of the level of efficiency that we must reach if we are to keep up in the fast-moving world.”

“I have already heard good things about Limkokwing, both here and elsewhere. This institution brings with it an international reputation for being practical trendsetters.

We have seen this from the positive example being set by some of the university’s local alumni who are already making their contributions to our society. We are therefore confident of Limkokwing’s continued ability to empower our youths in this setting,” he said when opening the Limkokwing University Botswana.

Today, the Limkokwing University Botswana has three campuses, with more than 6,000 students. This is a manifestation of the confidence of a Malaysian university in investing in African education.

This would result in the Botswana students to stay at their homeland rather than going abroad to study. Although this is the target, Botswana is not closing its doors towards sending its students overseas.

Limkokwing University is taking this one step ahead with the Global Classroom concept. With branches in three continents that are in Asia, Africa and Europe, the Botswana students are given an opportunity to study for one month, one semester or one year at any of our campuses overseas.

Mogae awarded honorary doctorate by Limkokwing University

Before stepping down as President, Mogae was able to witness the first graduation in Botswana, where he was also conferred a honorary doctorate in Humanities.

When accepting the award, Mogae said said he admired Malaysia for turning itself into a technologically-advanced country in a short span of time.

“Perhaps the university, as an institution created in Malaysia, is part of Malaysia’s ‘secret’,” he says.

Mogae said Malaysia had emerged as a very successful nation both in the region and globally.

“Our government is really impressed with Malaysia’s nation-building history. We try to imitate Malaysia as it resembles many African nations.

“In 50 years after independence, Malaysia has strived and turned into a vital player in Asia,” he told Malaysian reporters after the first convocation of Limkokwing University in Gaborone recently.

Describing Malaysia as an “Asian Tiger”, he said Botswana was looking forward to sharing experience and knowledge on how Malaysia had managed to build so many institutions of higher learning which were vastly recommended globally.

“Botswana is a nation with majority Africans, but is still at the bottom line of its socio-education hierarchy.

“Chinese and Indians are doing well in Botswana. So we want to bridge the gap. Thus the establishment of Limkokwing in Botswana will surely benefit us,” he said.

Mogae also recognised the positive influence the Limkokwing University had on its students and its population.

“It is good to see young people brimming with enthusiasm. When people have confidence in themselves, they become high achievers,” he says.