BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Newly-installed second Chancellor of Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) Reverend Dr Peter Lee is dreaming of building a hospital within the vicinity of the tertiary institution.
Dr Lee, who was speaking through an aid of an interpreter, made this pronouncement on March 29, 2025 during the Eighth EMCU Graduation Ceremony, which took place in a hall within the institution’s vicinity. The graduation ceremony saw 216 students graduate, and they were conferred by Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo.
During his Acceptance Speech as the second chancellor of this medical university, Dr Lee said this pronouncement was a prayer request he forwarded to the people of Eswatini.
He stated that this was his way of giving back to the people around the world, as he was once at the receiving end of people who decided to give back in his home country – South Korea. He told the attendees of the graduation ceremony that missionaries came to his country and started schools and hospitals.
This gesture by the missionaries, according to Dr Lee, was the one that improved the standard of living in South Korea. He said before that, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. He narrated that at some point, South Korea was under the rule of Japan from 1910 to 1945. Dr Lee was born during the time when his country was still under Japan, as he was born in 1943.
The religious leader further stated that his country also found itself in war with North Korea, which began in 1950 up to 1953, where about 3 million people died. He said about 36 000 American soldiers died in that war. Soon after war, Dr Lee said his country began to improve in socio-economic terms. He attributed that improvement mainly to the missionaries.
Dr Lee said he was happy to be the second chancellor of EMCU because he was there when the institution was to be built. He mentioned that the last time he was in Eswatini was 20 years ago, together with members of the board of Africa Continent Mission. He said they were standing at the vicinity of the institution when a dream of building EMCU was communicated to them by founders of the Africa Continent Mission. According to the new chancellor, a loud prayer session was held in that place.
He thanked the attendees of the event, saying they were part of Emaswati who allowed them to establish the university. He went to bow before Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo and Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima. The new chancellor further bowed before the attendees, as a token of appreciation for the cooperation that existed between the Africa Content Mission and the Eswatini Government.
Minister Nxumalo said Government was pleased with the work that was done by EMCU, as there was demand for tertiary education. He further mentioned that Government continued to subvent the institution and paid tertiary fees for students. He also said over E4 million had been released for new dormitories for the new medical school, which was fully accredited. He also congratulated the new chancellor for EMCU.
