The guest of honour, Mr. George Chitera, the deputy managing director of FDH Bank, Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri, Vice-Chancellor of University of Blantyre Synod, fellow members of UBS Council, distinguished guests, esteemed faculty and staff of UBS, parents and guardians and our graduates. A very happy good morning to you all.
Before I go into my written speech, I would like in a very special way recognize the university choir for such talented singing. Can we put our hands together for them.
It is an honor and privilege to stand before you this morning at my first graduation ceremony as chairperson of UBS Council. And because it is my first speech, I do not intend to make it long and boring. Instead, it will be very short and to the point. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and to be part of such a significant occasion in the life of this institution. Today is not just an ordinary day. It is a day for three things.
Number one, Celebration and I know we will see people singing Vuvuzelas when the names are being mentioned, so it’s a day of celebration. Number two, it is a day of reflection and it is a day of anticipation.
Why a day of celebration? Because we celebrate in public the achievements of our graduates. That’s what a graduation ceremony is all about. And number two, we have said it’s a point of reflection. We reflect on the journey that has brought you here. It is always a journey of ups and downs, a journey of sleepless nights at some point, a journey where you reach a point of saying, I don’t think I will finish. This is the furthest that I can go. I would like to assure you that in this journey, you are never too late, nor too fast. You just have to do your part as required. It’s a day of reflection, anticipation, because we look forward with hope to the impact that we will make in this world. That is our anticipation.
Let me dwell on the theme for this graduation, transformed to transform. I was listening very carefully to the ceremony and I thought maybe we could have just ended with that ceremony and then we go into the mentioning of the names because I think it was so rich when the preacher was actually expounding on this theme. It captures the very essence of higher education and the mission and vision of this university. The motto of this university is inspiring holistic transformation. Inspiring holistic transformation. You know, universities nowadays are not merely centers of knowledge transmission or knowledge production. They are actually engines of transformation. They shape the minds, they nurture character, and they prepare individuals to contribute meaningfully to our society at large. That’s what universities are for so at UBS, we aim to transform individuals holistically to ensure that they will be relevant to the world.
On this particular theme, now I would like to address the graduates. This message is for you. You are the embodiment of this transformation we are talking about. Over the years, you have grown intellectually, professionally, and above all, personally. So that’s why the certificate, the degree that you are going to take today, there is your name written on it. There are no names of the council chair or even the lecturers. They are not there. They will be your name, so you have been challenged, you have been tested by writing several exams and of course you have been refined. So today you emerge not only with an academic qualification but with the capacity to make a difference in the society.
However, as the theme reminds us, transformation carries responsibility, so make sure that as you go out there, be responsible citizens. The investment made in your education by your families, if you have got one, or by this university and by the nation at large, calls upon you to go beyond personal success. You are being sent forth to transform communities, institutions and industries. You are called to be ethical leaders, innovative thinkers and above all responsible citizens. As chairman of UBS Council, I wish to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to ensuring that this university continues to provide quality, relevant and transformative education. We are dedicated to strengthening governance, supporting academic excellence and fostering an environment where both staff and students can thrive.
That is our commitment to Madam Vice-Chancellor and your team. We commend greatly your leadership and dedication. I thought we would put hands together for that. We have not interacted that much, but they are so committed to make sure that this university actually grows from strength to strength. To the faculty and staff, we really appreciate your tireless efforts in shaping these graduates. Your work is evident in the success that we are celebrating today. 160 plus graduating students and it’s the biggest number ever. So that actually puts us in a situation where come next time we have to beat that target.
Now to the parents, I know the parents are very quiet today and the guardians, we would like to say thank you in a very special way for your sacrifices and unwavering support. Your role in this journey cannot be overstated. Let me finish by addressing the graduates again. As you step into the next phase of your lives, I urge you to carry forward the values instilled in you by this institution. Let me cite the ones which are at my heart. Number one, integrity. Number two, excellence. Number three, service. And number four, resilience.
Let your transformation be visible not only in your achievements but in the positive change you bring to others. So, I have this to say. Go out and lead with purpose. Go out and save with humility. Go out and transform the world around you. I hope the choir will not compose a song from this go out. On behalf of the University Council, I wish to congratulate you on this remarkable achievement. Congratulations and may the good Lord guide you in your future endeavors. I thank you for your kind attention. Thank you.
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