In honouring Chief Albert Luthuli’s Legacy, the Centre for Responsible Leadership (CRL) at the University of Pretoria takes great pride in obtaining the naming rights of Chief Albert Luthuli. After many discussions with the Luthuli family, the Albert Luthuli Foundation and the Albert Luthuli Museum Council agreement was signed for the CRL to now officially be known as the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership (ALCRL).

Chief Albert Luthuli is widely known and respected as one of the truly visionary leaders of all time. His humanitarian style and passion made him someone who deeply respected equality, human rights, dignity and social justice. He demonstrated during his time as freedom fighter the leadership qualities that today the world is in desperate need of. His Legacy will undoubtedly survive the test of time and still today his contributions to society are being celebrated. He was a man who has left deep tracks on the African continent, fighting all forms of injustice, and who created solid pathways for South Africa to enter its first democratic election in 1994.

In 1961 Chief Albert Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Prize for Peace (it had been held over in 1960 since there were no suitable candidates that year) for his part in the anti-Apartheid struggle. The University regards this as a great honour indeed. This strategic association will strengthen the work of the CRL and will solidify the visionary intent of Chief Luthuli for generations to come.

It is essential to bring the development of responsible leaders to scale. Of great importance, however, is the need to build institutional value by linking the work of the ALCRL to a globally respected leader and allowing his Legacy to live into the future, shaping future generations to deliver responsible leaders. The University of Pretoria – with its strategic focus on developing the next generation of responsible leaders, its institutional strength and legitimacy and access to the largest group of residential students in South Africa – provides a perfect platform for this strategic association with Chief Albert Luthuli.