The guest of honour, Mr. George Chitera, the deputy managing director of FDH Bank. Your excellency, the vice chancellor, Professor Isabel Apawo Piri. Guardians and sponsors, my fellow graduates, the class of 2026, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
There is a famous African proverb that says, “It takes a whole village to raise a single child.” This means that the upbringing of a single child requires the collective efforts of an entire community. Everyone in the village plays a part, sowing into the child life, training them in the ways of the village and even disciplining them so they may grow into successive independent and responsible citizen.
Moms and dads, siblings, cousins, grandparents and neighbors, each person carries within them something that the child will need to grow up well. In the spirit of that same proverb, I submit to you today that it takes the whole University of Blantyre Synod community, together with parents, guardians, to produce a complete graduate like me and my fellows there. My name is Akim Paul and on behalf of the entire University of Blantyre Synod class of 2026, I want to thank every person in the UBS community, every parent, guardian and sponsor of any kind who has helped us reach this milestone.
This is the moment we walk across this stage having completed four legal series of preparation. Madam Vice Chancellor, Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri, thank you for stepping into your role with your strategic academic leadership, humility and the strongest desire to completely turn the University of Brandeis Synod. The university council alongside the chairperson associate professor Mphatso Kamndaya, thank you for your consistent work to position this university for growth and to expand its founding vision. Faculties, thank you for continuously presenting us with content that has shaped our minds, teaching us to perceive the world with a growth mindset so that we can see opportunities where others see none. To the university administration, deans, heads of departments, lecturers, librarians, your tireless work has paved the way for every student at UBS to have the best possible experience towards true holistic transformation.
To our respective parents, guardians and sponsors, you have been consistently encouraging us with your affirmation, most importantly financial support time after time. You know the life of a student. To the lifelong friends we have met, it is because of you that this journey has been one of a kind. The relationship that we have made towards sharing the opportunities not just chatting. Without the help of each group of people that I have just pointed out none of us, I mean the graduates would be sitting where we are today, so this directly supports the above African proverb that it takes every single person working together in unity to raise a whole person, to raise a whole graduate. Every one of you has been invaluable on the quest we have worked for the last four years to us to be well educated and have the potential to transform the world towards imperative development.
Yes, we have not yet reached the pinnacle of wholeness. But I can assure you of this, because of the training, development, support, love, relationships that we have made, we have been adequately equipped to continue the journey towards becoming a whole person with impact.
The final one to the class of 2026, when Jesus was being crucified on the cross, just before he breathed his last breath, he spoke three words that will forever echo through history. The word is, “it is finished”. When Jesus proclaimed those words and hung his head, it was not just a sign of death, but rather a cry of victory. When he said those three words, the ground shook, stones split, and the veil of the temple was torn into two, giving us access to the family of God through his finished work on the cross. He ordered the course of history. He ordered the course of eternity forever. There is power in finishing. There is power in completion. I do remember that time with Professor Maxwell in class, he said, you guys, if you would like to graduate, if you would like to finish, if you would like to complete your programs like your bachelor’s here, you need to work hard, you guys. Otherwise, we are tired of seeing you going up and down here. We would like to see you moving out there, seeing you in the UK, seeing you in China, seeing you building your businesses, touching the lives that matter out there with impact.
So, by completing your respective degree programs, you have opened doors to make history, change, and an impact. Class of 2026, the world is waiting for us. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Class of 2026, the world is ready for us to come with every tool we have been equipped during our time at UBS, the world has searched for answers to its problems, but soon it will search no more because you have been equipped to bring those answers.
I leave you today with the words of Harriet Tubman, every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember and I repeat always remember that you have within you the strength, potential, the patience and the passion to go beyond the sky and change the world holistically. Always remember class of 2026 welcome to the world full of opportunities but those opportunities are dependent on how we perceive the world and create solutions rather than waiting for someone else to create them for us. The world does not entertain illiterate people but the bold ones. May we go with boldness. I wish you well. Thank you all for your attention.
Share this article:
