On September 22, 2023, the University of Nairobi held its 69th graduation ceremony, celebrating the Class of 2023. As is tradition, the ceremony was presided over by the outgoing Chancellor, Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, and the Chief Guest was the Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala. Under the overarching theme of "Transforming the Society by Nurturing Resilient Human Capital," this September's graduation served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the transformative potential of education.
The Valedictorian for the Class of 2023 was Arian Muindi Nzioka from the Department of Architecture. In his maiden speech, Nzioka expressed his gratitude to his supervisors, management, parents, family, and fellow classmates stating “I joined the university teeming with dreams and ideas, where I got more dreams, ideas and a generous gift of memories, friendships and a degree to crown it. I have a dream to pass this knowledge to those who are coming after us and lately, I am becoming more grateful for the now. This, here and now, is the moment that has been the story.’ It is worth noting that this exceptional achievement marks the second consecutive time that the Department of Architecture has produced a Valedictorian, with Cynthia Wahito paving the way as the valedictorian in September 2022.
During the ceremony, the Faculty graduated 481 candidates, including 30 Master's Degree recipients, 445 Bachelors Degree recipients, 5 Diploma recipients, and 1 Doctor of Philosophy in Design.
In her speech, Chancellor Rattansi reminisced about her time as Chancellor and expressed her pride in the graduating class. She noted that the graduands represent the University's best due to some good lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the importance of globalization and the need to approach issues with a global perspective. She went on to say, “I stand before you today, to discharge a sacred and indivisible duty…one generously conferred to me by statutes. I stand here to celebrate with you and to confer degrees and grant diplomas, certificates, and other awards of and in the name of the University of Nairobi. It is a duty I have discharged, without fail, since I was appointed Chancellor. I am therefore most pleased to be at the service of today’s graduating cohort to whom I am morally indebted on such a day.”
Chief Guest Dr. Beatrice Inyangala commended the University of Nairobi for its commitment to providing the country with quality human capital, in spite of the many challenges around us. She also noted that the fact that this is the first physical graduation since 2019 is proof that the university has made major strides in recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chair of Council, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, congratulated the graduands and noted that the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their time at the University of Nairobi have equipped them to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. He also expressed his hope that the graduates will use their newfound knowledge and skills to contribute to the betterment of society.
Prof. Kiama, the Vice-Chancellor, noted that the graduation marks a return to the physical graduation, which is a cherished tradition by students, parents, sponsors, and all the esteemed stakeholders of the University. He also announced that preparations are in top gear to welcome approximately 11,000 new students to the University of Nairobi from the 25th of September 2023.
The 69th graduation ceremony was a joyous occasion for the University of Nairobi community, as it celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2023. The graduates are now ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives, and the University of Nairobi is confident that they will make significant contributions to society.
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Prof. Kiama noted,’ Today's graduation is a special one because it marks a return to the physical graduation, which is a cherished tradition by our students, parents and sponsors, and all the esteemed stakeholders of this University. Since the year 2020, the University, like many other institutions, was forced to adopt online activities as a safeguard against the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to celebrating our graduating class today, preparations are in top gear to welcome approximately 11,000 new students to the University of Nairobi from 25th of September 2023.
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