Dr Samia dedicates her honorary doctorate award to Tanzanians for their trust in her leadership

MOSCOW: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has dedicated her honorary doctorate award to the people of Tanzania, saying the recognition reflects the trust and confidence they have placed in her leadership and service.

Speaking after receiving the honour from RUDN University in Moscow, President Samia said the award also belongs to teachers, parents and young people whose aspirations continue to inspire leaders to prioritise service above personal interests.

“This award is not uniquely mine; it is a tribute to the people of Tanzania whose confidence and trust have given me the privilege to serve. It belongs to the teachers who shaped us, the parents who sacrificed for us, and the young people whose dreams remind us that leadership must always be about service and not ourselves,” she said.

The President paid tribute to Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, noting that his philosophy of placing people at the centre of development continues to guide the country’s policies and leadership.

“Mwalimu Nyerere taught us that development must always place the human being at the centre. That lesson continues to guide us, and what you have seen in the documentary is a reflection of that enduring principle,” she said.

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Additionally, the Head of State emphasised the importance of education in national development, saying it should always serve humanity and contribute to improving people’s lives. She reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to strengthening international academic cooperation and knowledge exchange.

“As a humble recipient of this honour and now a member of the RUDN fraternity, I commit myself to further strengthening academic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Tanzania and this esteemed institution. I will continue to encourage Tanzanian students and scholars to see RUDN as a place of learning, friendship and opportunity,” she said.

The President expressed gratitude to the university’s leadership, council, senate, professors, staff and students for what she described as a historic recognition, and wished continued prosperity for the university, the Russian Federation and Tanzania.