LONDON: Lubna Zulkifli, a 28-year-old final-year masters student in Speech and Language Therapy, recently joined the ranks of many illustrious and prominent individuals worldwide.
This was as she was granted the Freedom of the City of London by the Lord Mayor of London, Professor Michael Mainelli.
In a ceremony rich in history and tradition dating back to 1237, Lubna became a Freeman of the City of London, joining esteemed figures such as Florence Nightingale, Nelson Mandela, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Datuk Jimmy Choo.
Malaysia's first prime minister received the award in 1968, while acclaimed shoe designer Choo received his in 2006.
Lubna, a Yayasan Khazanah scholar, along with twenty-six other international postgraduate students from Goodenough College in Bloomsbury, were given the award in a ceremony at Mansion House, the mayor's official residence.
"It was a very momentous event for me to be at Mansion House. It was a well-organised ceremony, with the chamberlain calling our names before we were given the award.
"As the 695th mayor handed it over, he said, 'I give you joy'. It is especially meaningful as I was born in London 28 years ago when my parents were here," Lubna said of the event on June 10, where she read the declaration of the freeman and signed the Freeman's declaration book.
Dressed in her traditional baju kurung, Lubna was part of the group of scholars participating in the mayor's "Connect to Prosper" programme.
This initiative focuses on the city's expertise in finance, law, art, and engineering, bringing together leading experts from diverse backgrounds to tackle critical global challenges such as artificial intelligence and climate change.
"It is an extraordinary honour, and being part of the first cohort from Goodenough College to receive this recognition fills me with immense pride. This accomplishment came after completing a six-month programme as a City of London scholar, making the achievement even more meaningful," said Lubna, who has a few more months at University College London (UCL) before returning home as a qualified speech and language therapist.
"This honour acknowledges my connection to London and prompts reflection on my academic journey, personal growth, and the friendships forged at Goodenough College.
"This milestone encourages me to pursue my goals with renewed purpose... while it is a moment to celebrate, it also reminds me that I still have a lot to prove to myself and to those who have supported me."
As part of the Connect to Prosper programme, Lubna visited several institutions in the city, including St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Guildhall, and the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), a public research centre holding a thousand years of London history.
"We got to know more about the City of London; its political entity, and its economic landscape," said Lubna.
In a 2000-word essay submitted for the programme, Lubna compared the archiving of documents between the LMA and Arkib Negara Malaysia.
Most institutions are actively moving towards digitisation of archives, though Lubna observed that not many people are aware of this shift.
Lubna also explained the ancient tradition of the Freedom of the City of London which dates back to the 13th century, noting that being a Freeman meant she could trade freely, cross the London Bridge, and even drive a flock of sheep toll-free!
"Of course, now everybody can cross the London Bridge toll-free, but not everyone can cross the bridge with their sheep!" Lubna said, laughing.