A degree is not a finish line, and graduation is not the end of learning but the beginning of accountability.
That was the central message from Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Nairobi, Kenya, as he delivered the keynote address during the 76th graduation ceremony at Makerere University on Tuesday, February 24.
Speaking under the theme “Knowledge with Purpose,” Prof. Ozor challenged graduates to view their academic credentials not as status symbols but as instruments of responsibility.
“Your degrees do not make you better than others. They make you responsible for others,” he said.
A World of Challenges — and Opportunity
Prof. Ozor painted a candid picture of the global landscape awaiting the graduates — one shaped by climate change, technological disruption, inequality, food insecurity, and the rapid spread of misinformation.
Rather than framing these as insurmountable obstacles, he described them as opportunities for purposeful leadership.
“Into this world, you step, armed with knowledge, credentials, and potential,” he noted, urging graduates to use their education to serve society.
A Tailored Message to Each College
Addressing graduands from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), College of Education and External Studies (CEES), and the School of Law (SoL), Prof. Ozor delivered pointed guidance tailored to each discipline.
To the School of Law
He described the legal profession as a moral calling.
“Uganda, Africa, and the world do not need lawyers who only know how to argue. They need lawyers who know why they argue,” he said.
He urged law graduates to protect the vulnerable, uphold justice with courage, and let integrity define their reputation.
“Justice does not need clever people, but courageous ones,” he emphasized.
To the College of Education and External Studies
Prof. Ozor underscored the transformative power of teachers, reminding them that classrooms shape nations long before policies do.
“Every nation rises and falls on the quality of its teachers. Teach not only for examinations, but for understanding. Teach learners how to think, not what to think,” he said, describing education as quiet work with generational impact.
To the College of Computing and Information Sciences
Calling on computing graduates to use technology to solve African problems, he warned that innovation without ethics can be dangerous.
“Technology is powerful, but it is not neutral. Every line of code carries values. Build for inclusion. Build for accessibility. Build for truth,” he said.
“The future will not belong to those who know the most technology, but to those who use it wisely.”
During the ceremony, Prof. Ozor announced that ATPS is offering PhD scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships in Artificial Intelligence, inviting deeper collaboration with Makerere University.
To the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
He highlighted their critical role at the intersection of sustainability and survival, urging them to blend indigenous knowledge with scientific innovation to secure Africa’s food systems and protect ecosystems.
Integrity Beyond Grades
In his closing remarks, Prof. Ozor reminded graduates that integrity will open doors their degrees cannot, humility will teach lessons success never will, and resilience will matter more than their grades.
As Makerere marked its 76th graduation milestone, his message was clear: knowledge without purpose is incomplete — and true education begins where ceremony ends.
