Led by Dr Jean Claude Autrey, GCSK, CSK, Chancellor of the University, this tribute Ceremony was held in the building that bears his name, the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, on 30 September 2025.

His Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, GCSK, President of the Republic of Mauritius graced the event as Chief Guest, in the presence of Dr The Hon Arvin Boolell, GOSK, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr The Hon Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, PFHEA, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, His Eminence Cardinal Maurice Piat and His Excellency Mgr Denis Wiehe, C.S.Sp., son of Late Dr Paul Octave Wiehe.

The ceremony started with a special welcome by Associate Professor (Dr) Dinesh Surroop, Acting Vice-Chancellor, He also touched briefly on the enormous contributions of Dr Wiehe, whose vision and leadership shaped the UoM that we know today. Indeed, it was under Dr Wiehe’s stewardship from 1968 to 1973 that the University began its transformation into the truly comprehensive higher education institution that it is today. It is noteworthy that Dr Wiehe’s decisions at that time set the course for the development of the human capital that a newly independent Mauritius so desperately needed.

During the Ceremony, we learned that it was His Excellency Mgr Denis Wiehe who took the initiative, with three other persons, namely Pierre Raffray, Lindsay Edouard and Olivier Lalouette, to write the Biography entitled: “Octave Wiehe: Un Mauricien Visionnaire”. Mgr Wiehe addressed the audience on this special occasion. He explained how, with the collaboration of some friends, family members, and other collaborators, his dream of publishing a book to commemorate his father came to fruition. He highlighted the important contributions of Dr Paul Octave Wiehe to the advancement of science, conservation and research as well as to the advancement of learning, thus contributing to the development and progress of Mauritius.

The ceremony continued with a presentation by Dr Louis Jean Claude Autrey, which was the main focus of the event. In his presentation, Dr Autrey highlighted Dr Wiehe’s life, his educational and professional journey, his research work, and his impressive achievements and contributions in the fields of botany, phytopathology and conservation – in particular, on the effects of deforestation and on the indigenous plant varieties of Mauritius. Through his presentation, the audience discovered Dr Wiehe’s passion for plants and learned about his visionary leadership of core institutions such as the MSIRI and the UoM.

Looking back, there is no doubt that it was Dr Wiehe who set the foundations for the development of our university, ensuring that it is equipped to really play a determining role in the development of Mauritius. 

The full presentation made by Dr Autrey is available here.

We were honoured to have in our midst His Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius, who graced the event as Chief Guest and addressed the audience.

Throughout his speech, the President spoke about how Dr Wiehe played a catalytic role in the development of higher education in the country, how Dr Wiehe had warned about the threats to our native biodiversity, about his foresight and determination for conservation, and his tremendous work at the MSIRI, the Department of Agriculture, and at the University of Mauritius.

Speaking of Dr Wiehe's contributions as the UoM Vice-Chancellor, His Excellency stated that Dr Wiehe’s philosophy and his tireless quest for new knowledge and the UoM’s motto, “Scientia Salus Patriae” (meaning “Knowledge at the Service of the Nation”) were perfectly synchronized. His legacy is honoured in the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, a lasting tribute to his contributions to science, education, and national progress.

He ended his speech by paying his tribute to Dr Paul Octave Wiehe for his unwavering dedication and service to the upliftment of our nation and called upon one and all to reflect on how we can carry forward his legacy

After his speech, His Excellency the President officially launched the Biography entitled “Octave Wiehe – Un Mauricien Visionnaire”.

The event concluded with the offer, by H E Mgr Wiehe, of a copy of the Biography to the Chief Guest and to each of the other Guests of honour.