Page 3 - UNAM Virtual Graduation 2020 e-Book

Vice Chancellor’s

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO 2020 GRADUATES

Dear Graduates,

Congratulations to one-and-all.

Achievement is one of life’s most memorable delights. Though it seems
quite an elusive subject to many, you have demonstrated brilliance by
making it this far. No matter your discipline, craft or vocation, graduation
is a feat worthy of praise because it adds imponderable value to your
self-worth, competence and confidence.

Even if it is just for a moment, I want us all to forget that we have a wolf
at our door by the name of COVID-19. Let us instead take this moment,
and busk in our collective achievement.

We cannot see stars during the day, but we know that they are always
there. Even though we cannot be together at this time, rest assured that
we are always here.

I want to dedicate this day to you, the thousands of sons and daughters
who have chosen the path of knowledge and continue still on this great
and arduous journey. You are an inspiration to others! Your graduation
today is the spark that will inspire a flame of faith and hope among the
next generation of boys and girls from your respective village, town or city.

UNAM is on a new journey - the institution is no longer interested in students who only wish to come to
the university because they want to be employed somewhere afterwards. Employment should merely
be an option, or a means by which to raise capital to solve the problems that linger in our communities.
We want our students to be a force of positive change in the country.

I would err greatly, if I fail to give special congratulations to our first cohort of Veterinary Medicine
Doctors! This is a milestone that will be marked in the annals of history - with your name attached to
it! In the same vain, I extend congratulations to our first cohort of Public Health Practitioners. They
have already been deployed in the field, volunteering at the Ministry of Health and Social Services’
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in various regions, fighting at the frontline against the COVID-19
pandemic.

Though you depart from UNAM as an educated man or woman, please resist the temptation of always
being right and appreciate the learning power of being wrong sometimes. The pursuit of knowledge
and wisdom is a never ending journey! Our doors remain open should you wish to challenge yourself
by studying further.

Observe this crowning moment as the beginning of the rest of your journey and let cosmic wisdom be
your destination.

The quest for knowledge never truly ends.
Congratulations once again!

Prof. Kenneth Matengu
Vice Chancellor
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