Chair of Council, Prof. Julia Ojiambo has been conferred with a higher doctorate degree (Honoris causa)
The University of Nairobi celebrated its 64th Graduation on December 11, 2020 virtually.
In the 2nd virtual graduation Ceremony, two doctorate honorary degrees were conferred to Prof. Julia Ojiambo and Dr, Prof. Micere Mugo for their outstanding service and contribution to society.
In the Ceremony that saw over 5,700 graduands awarded degrees and diplomas, the Chief Guest was CAS, Education Mr. Zack Kinuthia who was speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Prof. George Magoha. In his speech, The CS congratulated the University of Nairobi for holding a Virtual graduation, for conducting exams online and for ensuring that teaching and learning continued amidst the pandemic.
“I would like to commend the management of the University of Nairobi for moving with speed to ensure minimal interruption of the academic programmes for students at all levels. This has culminated into two successful virtual graduation ceremonies. I congratulate UoN for completing their 2019/2020 examinations to about 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students at various stages of their academic programmes in the University are also continuing with their studies using the virtual learning platforms.”
While Congratulating the graduands, the Chancellor, Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, noted, “50 years ago, our inaugural graduating class ushered Kenya into the era of a national university. Today, unlike graduations for yesteryears, bears a striking resemblance to our inauguration as a university as well as our first graduation. It has been carefully and deliberately planned to coincide with the eve of Jamuhuri Day, a day when Kenya like University of Nairobi celebrates both her formation into a Republic and independence from colonial rule a year earlier.”
She urged the graduands to have an open mind when going out to the society, a lot has changed. “Unlike your predecessors, the challenges of a local and global labour market in a state of flux is likely to be felt more severely. New life dynamics have attended the COVID-19 pandemic; economies of the world have been ravaged on scale never seen before; alternation of lockdowns and lifting of the same has resulted into hitherto unforeseen swings and lulls in human productivity.”
While accepting the honorary degree, Chair of Council, Prof. Julia Ojiambo opined, “Today, many of the barriers some of us faced as we elbowed our way to excellence and recognition in a largely male dominated world barely exist. This development should never be taken for granted. That today’s girl child can claim many privileges that hitherto belonged exclusively to the boy child is an achievement we all should celebrate. Kenya has, over time, largely weaned itself of this socialization on the understanding that a society that discriminates its own people on the basis of gender is one that can hardly realize its potential.”
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama congratulated the graduands and the University community for serving and ensuring that all students that studied, graduated. “I congratulate all the graduands of class 2020 for completing their studies on time despite the negative effects of Covid-19. In spite of the devastating effects of Covid-19, the University of Nairobi has managed to graduate about 8,000 graduands in the academic year 2019/2020. I salute the faculty for making frantic efforts to ensure that all students who have completed their studies are given the opportunity to graduate. This graduation is a historic one. It coincides with our golden Jubilee celebrations occurring when we are celebrating fifty years of academic excellence. It marks the end of an era and the beginning of a newer chapter for the University.
Most graduands joined the graduation via online platforms. The University management celebrates and congratulates each and every graduand and wishes them well.
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