Over 4500 students graduate from University of Juba

By Benjamin Takpiny

Over 4500 students at the University of Juba on Saturday graduated in various fields of studies.

 The Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga appealed to the graduates to go into the world of work and serve the community with diligence and integrity.

“Please strive to be active hardworking citizens who are endowed with humanistic values, empathy, respect, tolerance and responsibility towards the country. You must be lifelong learners, ready to listen to other forms and domains of knowledge, and humble enough to open up to new learning possibilities which will allow you to succeed in various careers. You must think globally while acting locally,” said Wani during the graduation ceremony held at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.

Students were awarded PHDs, post-graduate degrees, bachelors’ degrees and diplomas.

“These financial sacrifices made by your parents are not a loss today. It is an investment and not a loss, Today is an important milestone in your lives. A new phase has begun from this day as graduates look forward to joining the world of work and serve in their communities in accordance with the areas of their specialization and professional interest,” Wani added.

He commended the University’s administration for striving to improve the students learning environment by maintaining and furnishing the lecture halls, hostels, washrooms as well as the landscaping, launching of new schools and programs.

The University of Juba has 23 schools, three institutes, seven specialized centers and three colleges.

Dr. Manase  Lomole, Chairman of the University Council  urged the  graduates to be job creators rather than job seekers.

“You are now going out to serve our people and our nation, and the journey will not be smooth, there will be challenges along the way, you may land on a good job that defeats your training but in some cases you will find that you have nothing to fall back to immediately. In this regard, you will have to consider creating jobs for yourselves in whichever way as long as these are decent jobs,” said Lomole.

 He called on the national government and donors to support the University of Juba in developing it’s infrastructure.

 “Your Excellency, allow me to inform you that the Sudan crisis that has resulted in the influx of detainees and refugees to the Republic of South Sudan has also affected the University of Juba, but in his wisdom Professor John Akech with his strong team have been able to bring on board about 30 lecturers to join the University of Juba. This is very important and at this point, I would like to add that the government of the Republic of South Sudan has to do what the government of Sudan did to us in the time of war,” said Lomole.

He expressed hope that land will be found for the universities in Khartoum that are relocating to South Sudan to build their own facilities which will remain here as an asset, not only to them but for both Sudan and South Sudan.

 Prof. John Akech, the Vice Chancellor of University of Juba urged the graduates to go and serve the community.

“The class 2023 you should be leaders in your community, go out into your communities and be the change you will want to see in the world, I believe you have what it takes to realize your own individual visions for a better world,” said Akech.

Akech said that the University of Juba since it’s inception in 1975, has continued to achieve progress as reflected in the growth of it’s faculties, number of schools, academic programs and the student population since September 1977 when teaching began at the university of Juba.

He said the university has grown from a very humble beginning with four colleges and a few hundred students and staff to more than 38 000 students, 1200 faculties and 126 programs in the past academic year.

 Some of the schools that were recently introduced at the university include the school of petroleum and minerals, the school of nursing and the school of public health, school of chemistry, the school of hospitality and tourism, and the school of architecture, land management and urban planning.

Others included the schools of medical laboratory sciences, mathematics and the school of journalism and communication media studies and the school of and law development center.