His Royal Majesty, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene and Chancellor of this great university; The Vice Chancellor, Prof. William Otoo Ellis; Provost of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Deans of the various faculties, Members of the University Council; Members of staff; Distinguished Guests; Parents and Guardians; My Dear Colleague graduands; all Protocol duly observed;
I am indeed elated and humbled to be amongst this august gathering representing the graduating class of 2012; the evidence is not far-fetched as captured in the Methodist Hymn Number 8.
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
This ceremony is a symbolic climax of our years of adventure largely within and slightly without the confines of the four walls of this university. It is a day that we reminisce our years in the school and focus on the future. Above all we celebrate our successes.
[Ladies and Gentlemen, shall we put our hands together for the graduating class]
Like a financial instrument, we have come through a 4-year maturity period to this very day when our investment matures. We sit here in our robes and hats in celebration of our accomplished feats as degree holders with reputable knowledge. Of course, you would all bear me out that the journey has not been rosy; there have been times of pain and times of joy. Allow me to enumerate a few:
Do you remember that day when you found your name in the admission list; that day you set your foot on this land for the first time and in ignorance, took a shuttle from Republic Hall to Queens; that day you went with all eagerness for your first lecture and even struggled for the front seat? Little did you know that your appetite for lectures would soon dwindle; that specific day you saw your average for the first time, you could not believe it, hence you resolved to sit in the library till the bells ring; that time you jumped with heavenly joy over getting a 40%, after all, you had escaped a trail. Hmmm, the list goes on and on.
To those of us who are graduating with classes of our choice, I say ‘ayekoo’ and to those who are not, never be disappointed for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is still in the business of refining you.
Like every journey, the KNUST journey is not only filled with challenges, it comes with interesting moments as well. Why on earth would I not miss ‘Item 13’? It is the only time on campus you see unity in struggle. Whether you are in shoe or in ‘charlie wate’; wearing a bow tie or a flying tie; the young and old, the male and female all come together to struggle for ‘Item 13’ and the fittest survive. Being in a class that is well known for featuring in every ‘Item’, you just cannot miss out because you will be missing your family.
Also, how can you spend your weekend on campus without a feel of the TV rooms? You cannot afford missing the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga and the ultimate Champions League. One has to brace himself up for argument and the best way to start one is to say the undeniable fact that: ‘Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo are better than Barcelona and Messi’. I hope the guys here are not going to start one now.
Suffice it to say then, that no matter our experience on this campus, one thing remains: we have been refined. Like beer, we have been brewed, fermented, filtered and packaged into excellent premium beer for the market and as the university’s slogan notes: ‘Nyansopo wosane no Badwenma’. To wit, the knot of Wisdom is untied only by the wise; we have been specially produced to untie the avalanche of knots that lie in the outside world.
Fellow Graduands, our training here gives us the keys to our own success. The future before us is like a mass of desert sand, some of us are going to run through, some will walk and others will crawl; note that it is not about how you do yours but what you leave behind in the desert sand; we should tread cautiously for every step we take would show. Wherever we go, no matter the weather; let us always bring our own sunshine. To quote the words of Arie Pencovici, ‘Graduation is only a concept. In real life, every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you’ll make a difference’.
Right now, the taking of photographs, making of posts to our Facebook walls or tweeting to our followers on twitter are all ways of savouring this moment. However, the significance of this day cannot pass without acknowledging and appreciating the integral role some individuals and groups have played in getting us to the zenith of our undergraduate education: We say Halleluyah to the Most High for His continuous guidance; to our lecturers, ‘merci très beaucoup’ for their teachings, counselling and even their patience for our follies. To our friends, we cannot leave you out for we crossed the emotional journey with you. Ultimately, to our parents and guardians, no amount of words can express our innermost sentiments and unconditional gratitude for your love, care and investment in our education. May you live long to enjoy the fruit of your sufferings. I exceptionally want to thank my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Afoakwah who sit in the auditorium with smiles on their faces and joy in their heart. I thank you for your core commitment to see me through school against all odds. I love you.
Finally, fellow graduands, even as we step out of the university, I would like to share a quote that has always encouraged me throughout the years. It was by our sociology lecturer, Mr. Ahmed Agyapong who advised us in first year. It says, “No matter what you do; you may not be able to compete with some of your peers, but make sure your children can”. Today, I use this quote in a broader sense to tell us that, we may not necessarily be responsible for what we are today, we may not be responsible for the state of Mother Ghana today; however, we are responsible for Ghana’s tomorrow!
Let us go out there in all honour and integrity, with a disciplined attitude and the right mental acumen because you and I are responsible for the future generation. Think of your degree as a ticket to impact the world positively beyond measure!
Above all these, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.
Thank you and Congratulations Class of 2012!!! I wish us all Godspeed!!!
