New Visiting Professorship at NTU to impart knowledge on healthy living

By Sadia Roohi

One needs to have discipline to live healthily, said 65-year-old Malaysian businessman and philanthropist Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai.

He firmly believes that health is wealth and has set a personal aim to work until 90 years old, and targets to live to 120 years old by keeping fit physically and mentally.

He is now propagating the understanding of health and wellness to the wider community through a new professorship at NTU where public seminars will be held.

The gift agreement for the Lim Wee Chai Visiting Professorship in Health and Wellness was signed by Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai (2nd from left), and Prof Ho Teck Hua (2nd from right), NTU President. The signing was witnessed by Mr Yap Rueh Yinn (far left), Head of Family Office, Top Family Office Pte Ltd, and Prof Lam Khin Yong (far right), NTU Vice President (Industry).

The Lim Wee Chai Visiting Professorship in Health and Wellness at NTU, set up with a S$1 million gift from Tan Sri Dr Lim, will invite distinguished faculty from renowned universities worldwide to engage with the NTU community through teaching and research collaborations.

The appointed Visting Professors will also share their expertise with the public through seminars focused on health and well-being and contribute to the advancement of public knowledge and awareness in healthy living.

The gift agreement was signed by Tan Sri Dr Lim and NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua at a ceremony held on 13 December 2023 at NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Novena.

Prof Ho said, “This Visiting Professorship aligns well with NTU’s objective to respond to the needs and challenges of healthy living and ageing. With the support of partners like Top Glove, we are confident that NTU can continue to help create a healthier and more resilient world through education, research, and innovation.” 

The establishment of the Lim Wee Chai Visiting Professorship on Health and Wellness was made possible by a S$1 million gift to NTU from Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai (8^th from right).

Tan Sri Dr Lim, who is also the executive chairman and founder of Top Glove – a leading international manufacturer of disposable gloves, expressed his hope that the gift to support NTU’s initiative of providing quality teaching, impactful academic and research programmes can benefit more students or researchers in shaping the future healthcare landscape.

“I have always believed that we are blessed, so we are in a position to do good things and support worthy causes. One such cause which is close to my heart is the advancement of education, particularly in the area of healthcare,” he said.

The Visiting Professor will be nominated and selected through a process overseen by NTU’s Deputy President and Provost Professor Ling San.

Top Glove played a pivotal role in the provision of life-saving PPE on a global scale during the Covid-19 pandemic. Top Glove Foundation, the glovemaker's charitable arm, donated approximately RM32 million to 3,500 charities as at the company’s financial year end 2023.