The award was made at a ceremony in Pretoria yesterday.

In announcing the award, Mbeki said it was for Fort Hare’s “exceptional academic leadership in South Africa and the continent”.

“The UFH is absolutely excited at the recent announcement,” said university spokesman Luthando Bara in a statement yesterday.

The award is named after the baobab tree, which has a giant trunk and strong leaves, and signifies great perseverance, resilience and strength of character.

“These are qualities attributed to the University of Fort Hare. It is undoubtedly a recognition of Fort Hare’s unstinting service in the education of legions of leaders from South Africa and many parts of southern and eastern and West Africa since the First World War,” Bara said.

“Fort Hare is the only university to receive this rare and distinguished honour. The presidential award is also a mark of confidence in Fort Hare’s future and it underscores the reason why Fort Hare retained its name and distinctive identity during the recent merger process.”

It was at the university that many ideals and hopes for a non-racial democracy were nurtured and the university produced world respected leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki, Chris Hani, Robert Sobukwe, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and many others who all played a role in securing democracy.

Fort Hare has conferred honorary doctorates on many African leaders, many of whom attended the university. It now houses the liberation movement’s archives donated by the ANC and the PAC in the early 1990s.

Bara said the honour was also an acknowledgement of the turnaround work UFH had done since 1999 to reposition itself in the context of 21st century knowledge and skills challenges.

Vice-chancellor Derrick Swartz and chancellor Sibusiso Bengu received the award on behalf of the university at the Union Buildings yesterday.