Nairobi, Kenya: The University of Nairobi marked its 72nd Graduation Ceremony on December 13, 2024, commemorating the academic milestones of 4,583 graduates across ten faculties. Themed “Transforming Society with Adaptive and Innovative Graduates,” the event showcased the University’s steadfast dedication to educational innovation and societal advancement.
Keynote Address: A Visionary Perspective
Chancellor Prof. Patrick V. Verkooijen delivered an incisive keynote, articulating the University’s ambition to transcend its position as Africa’s preeminent institution to join the ranks of the world’s leading universities. Prof. Verkooijen unveiled a two-year strategic transformation plan aimed at optimizing teacher-student ratios and expanding academic staff, a vision supported by the Kenyan government. As a testament to innovation, he cited the Silicon Savannah Innovation Park—a €35 million French-funded initiative—as an exemplar of the University’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial and technological advancement. “Graduates, the world awaits you—go forth and shape a united, resilient, and prosperous future,” he proclaimed.
Among the graduates, Prof. Verkooijen highlighted Nafisa, a medical student whose pioneering health app translates sign language into text, potentially benefitting 500 million hearing-impaired individuals worldwide. This achievement epitomizes the transformative ethos underpinning the University’s educational philosophy, demonstrating the power of innovation to address global challenges. Valedictorian Wallace Chege Munyiri, a Bachelor of Anatomy graduate, delivered a poignant address celebrating the transformative power of knowledge. He likened the human mind to fire, capable of both illumination and destruction, and exhorted his peers to nurture their intellectual capacities with intention and purpose.
Representing Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon. Julius Ogamba, Dr. David Watene extolled the University’s alignment with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063. He urged graduates to transcend academic achievements by driving impactful societal change, emphasizing that “the true measure of education lies not in the degree conferred but in the indelible impact you create.”
Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chair of the University Council, reaffirmed the Council’s pledge to enhance infrastructure, commercialize University assets, and cultivate strategic partnerships to restore and elevate the institution’s global standing. Referencing Malcolm X’s assertion that “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,” he underscored the pivotal role of education in societal progress.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Hutchinson lauded the Class of 2024 for their perseverance and resilience, describing them as embodiments of communal aspirations and national promise. She reiterated the transformative potential of education in addressing global and local challenges. Reinforcing this theme, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs Eng. Prof. Ayub N. Gitau urged graduates to internalize and enact the principles underpinning the event’s theme.
Leading the statistics on the 72nd Graduation was the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences that conferred 2,118 degrees, comprising 1,415 undergraduate and 703 postgraduate credentials. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences followed with 812 graduates, while the Faculty of Health Sciences accounted for 584 degrees. Notably, 128 doctoral degrees were conferred. The Faculty of Agriculture contributed 378 graduates.
The University of Nairobi’s 72nd Graduation Ceremony not only celebrated academic distinction but reaffirmed its enduring commitment to driving societal transformation through innovation, resilience, and visionary leadership.
