S R Nathan given Lifetime Achievement award by NUS

SINGAPORE — Former President S R Nathan, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement award at the inaugural National University of Singapore (NUS) Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Awards this evening (March 2).

He was honoured along with seven other alumni, NUS said in a media release.

Mr Nathan was recognised in recognition of his “exceptional contributions towards the development of the faculty, the university, Singapore and globally”, NUS said.

The university added that the awards were established to “recognise outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions” towards “the betterment and promotion of the arts and social sciences”.

Mr Nathan was from the Class of 1954 and belongs to the pioneer batch of social work students who graduated with a Diploma in Social Studies from the University of Malaya. He first began his career as a medical social worker and embarked on a 50-year career in civil service – including serving as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore’s longest serving President from 1999 to 2011.

“As we celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday alongside NUS’ 110th Anniversary, it is fitting to honour the achievements of our alumni,” said Professor Brenda Yeoh, Dean of the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. “Many of them were pioneering figures in the development of Singapore, without whom, our country would not be what it is today.”

The other alumni given awards include the Chairman of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Professor Wang Gungwu, former ambassador Professor Maurice Baker, Governor of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Ambassador Chan Heng Chee and Dean at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Professor Kishore Mahbubani. CHANNEL NEWSASIA