The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has joined the nation and the wider Caribbean community in mourning the passing of Sir Aziz Hadeed, honouring him as a visionary leader whose contributions to education and national development will endure for generations.
According to Antigua.news, the university issued a media statement on Saturday reflecting on Sir Aziz's distinguished years of service as Chairman of the Five Islands Campus Council — a role he first assumed in August 2019, coinciding with the campus's establishment. He was subsequently reappointed for a second term in 2024.
The institution credited Sir Aziz with guiding the campus through several defining moments in its young history, including its official launch, the widespread disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the landmark US$80 million partnership secured with the Saudi Fund for Development in 2023.
Under his chairmanship, student enrollment grew dramatically — from just 173 students in the campus's inaugural year to more than 1,400 today.
Beyond his formal leadership responsibilities, the university highlighted Sir Aziz's deep personal commitment to expanding access to higher education throughout Antigua and Barbuda and the broader Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Through scholarships funded personally by him, numerous students who lacked the financial means to pursue university studies were given that opportunity.
Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, described Sir Aziz as "far more than a Chairman," noting that he dedicated not only his financial resources, but also his "time, wisdom and heart" to the development of the campus and the advancement of higher education across the region.
The university said Sir Aziz leaves behind a stronger and more confident institution. It extended its condolences to Lady Hadeed, the Hadeed family, and all those mourning his passing.
