Atiku Abubakar, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, (1999 – 2007)
On the occasion of his conferment with the Degree of Doctor of International Relations, honoris causa, by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, during the Graduation Ceremony at the Chateau de Penthes, Geneva, held on Sunday, June 30, 2013
Protocol
I sincerely thank President Murphy, the Directors, Faculty, Students and the broader community of the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations for the honour bestowed on me today.
I heartily congratulate my co-awardees, His Excellency (Dr.) Oguz Demiralp, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey and His Excellency (Dr.) Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the UNOG and Honorary Dean of the Geneva School of Diplomacy, for receiving this honour as well.
As a little boy growing up in a small village called Jada in North East Nigeria, I could not have imagined myself standing before you today to receive an honorary doctorate degree from this prestigious school, in this city of diplomacy, in this prestigious country. I did have dreams but I never dreamt of a day like this.
When my father was put in jail by local authorities for refusing to let me attend school, because he needed my assistance with herding the livestock, it seemed like a harsh punishment. Were he to be alive to witness this day and the last 30 or so years of my life I am sure that he would exclaim “wow! Education pays after all.”
Education is what brought me in contact with members of the United States of America’s Peace Corps when I was still a little boy; a contact and interaction that would have profound impact on my life, especially my love for education and service.
Education is what gave me the friends that I made from across Nigeria as I attended high school and university.
Education is what gave me a job in the Nigerian civil service and provided me with opportunities to meet and form more life-long friendships from across the world.
Education is what has helped me to make the modest achievements that I have made in business and politics and the contributions that I have made in improving the lives of others. And education is what has informed my determination to give back to society, especially through education.
Education’s centrality in the improvement of the human condition is one reason why public policy must seek to always improve the quality of and access to public education everywhere in the world, especially in the developing countries such as mine, Nigeria.
A young friend of mine, who heads the human resources department of an organization in Nigeria, called me up one night about seven months ago and said he came across an application for employment by one of my children and wondered whether I consented to my child applying to work in that organization.
I asked why he needed to clear that with me first and he said he thought that I would prefer that my child works in one of my establishments. I then told him that I do not choose careers for my children. I owe them good education; I support them to acquire good education. What they do thereafter is up to them as adults.
That is also my attitude towards the other students that I support through school. I know that with good education they can make informed decisions and they can reach great heights. And more importantly, they can lead independent and productive lives. My friend seemed a bit puzzled but he said he understood.
So let me address the young men and women who graduated here today. You and your parents and guardians have made enormous sacrifices to achieve this milestone. I congratulate you for your achievement. May your graduation today presage your commitment to asking further questions of yourself and of the world!
Certainly, there is a sense of freedom that comes with graduation. That freedom can mean different things, depending on you. It can mean the freedom to do nothing, if you treat your degree as the end in itself. That can be paralyzing.
It can also mean the freedom to continue to explore, to continue to task yourselves, and to continue to set and pursue goals in this rapidly changing world. I think that you will opt for the latter form of freedom. Embrace it and make it work for you, your families, your communities and our world.
Once more congratulations.
Oh, and do not forget to give your parents and guardians a big hug for all the support and love that you have received, which helped to make this day the remarkable day that it is for you.
I thank President Murphy and the GSD community for considering me worthy of the honour bestowed on me today and pledge to uphold the high standards associated with this school.
I thank you all for attending this event and for your kind attention.
