Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 10/02/2007
10 February 2007 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim Hon'ble President of Uganda, Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Excellency, Dr. Orar Abdullah Naseef, Chairman of the IUIU CouNcil Excellency Dr. Ahmad K. Sengendo, Rector of the IUIU Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Graduating Students and the Faculty Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu At the outset, I would like to begin by offering my sincere thanks to the Government of Uganda and to the Rector, Faculty Members and the student community of the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) for their very kind invitation to attend its 14th Graduation Ceremony. It would have indeed been a matter of honour and pleasure for me to be present here personally on this auspicious occasion. However, I deeply regret my inability to do so due to some urgent preoccupations that require my stay in Jeddah at this time. Your Excellencies Distinguished Guests, There is the timeless saying, "Knowledge is Power". The use of the word "power" here is not trivial. It signifies 'empowerment' of a complete human being. Knowledge strengthens and refines the human mind to think and develop himself; the sense to sieve the right from the wrong; the courage to accept and understand the realities of the present; the ability to utilize the opportunities at hand and the wherewithal to face and overcome the challenges in life. Knowledge also empowers oneself with the vision to look ahead to cope with the demands and requirements of the future. It gives me great satisfaction and indeed pride, to note that the Islamic University of Uganda has placed itself in a position to deliver the kind of knowledge that empowers its learners. Distinguished Guests, As you may be aware that I have, for the most part of my life, been deeply involved in the academic world, both acquiring and imparting knowledge. On my assumption as Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, I decided that strengthening the OIC affiliated academic institutions in the member countries would be among my most prominent priorities. In the present age of globalization, where technology, in particular the ICT, has progressed by leaps and bounds, the Islamic countries have no option but to get into the race and strive to stay ahead. It is surely a formidable challenge because we made a late head-start. But this should not be an impediment because Allah Almighty has endowed us with enough resources, vitality, brains and the ability to make up for the lost time and to take the lead. What is needed is the will and the leadership to get there. This was the inspiration behind my initiative to develop the visionary Ten year Program of Action for the Islamic World that also commensurate with the UN MDGs. I was fortunate to receive the unequivocal support of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that of other Kings, Heads of States and Governments of the member states to go ahead in developing this Plan. Praise be to the Almighty, the Ten year Program of Action was adopted at the third Extraordinary Summit of the OIC held in December 2005 at Makkah Al Mukarramah and launched by the 33rd ICFM in Baku, Azerbaijan. Since then, I have been relentless in my pursuit of implementing the Program of Action. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see the Islamic University of Uganda becoming a part of the successful implementation of the Ten year Program of Action. Mr. Rector, I have been most impressed at the IUIU's report submitted to the 29th Session of the Commission for Economic, Social and Cultural affairs held in Jeddah on 9-11 May, 2006. The growth of the University from its modest beginning in 1988 to its present status is no mean achievement. It is heartening to note that the University today has a student population of more than 3766 students, 37 percent of whom are women. The establishment of a second campus in Kampala and that of a farm on the land donated by the Government of Uganda devoted to agricultural research are also noteworthy. Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for the generosity of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Government of Nigeria as a partner shareholder, the Government of Uganda, ISF and other member states for their generous financial and material support without which, the standards that have been set by the IUIU, would never have been possible. My dear graduating students I would like to congratulate individually each and every one of you for your academic accomplishment. Today, as you walk out with your diplomas, you can be proud that you have been able to graduate from an institution of excellence. The expectation of the people of your countries and indeed that of the Islamic Ummah are enormous – that you will serve them to the best of your abilities and use the knowledge you have gathered to illuminate our societies by stamping out the darkness of illiteracy and ignorance so that a more empowered next generation can take over from you. Your responsibility as of today will be an onerous one – you will have to commit yourself to use your knowledge based on the teachings of our great religion to build societies where there is no discrimination and deprivation amongst brothers; where violence, terror and extremism have no place and where harmony, love and tolerance are the dominating principles. Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, I would like to conclude my statement by once again congratulating the Rector, the Faculty and the Administrative Staff of the Islamic University of Uganda for setting the high standard. I also wish to reiterate my particular thanks and gratitude to the president His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his continuous support and patronage to this great institution. May Allah Almighty always guide us and bestow upon us all with His infinite blessings. I thank you all.
