Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has called on African graduates to embrace innovation, ethics, resilience, and service as vital qualities for leadership that can transform societies and shape the continent’s future.
Jonathan, who is the Chancellor of Cavendish University Uganda (CUU), gave this charge in Kampala while delivering a keynote speech at the institution’s 14th Graduation Ceremony.
Leadership, Innovation and Service
Speaking to the Class of 2025, the former President challenged the graduates to rise above entitlement and become active problem-solvers. “You have been taught to be problem-solvers, not problem-bearers; to be creators of opportunity, not seekers of entitlement,” Jonathan declared.
He emphasized that the world today is marked by rapid change, uncertainty, and unprecedented opportunities, stressing that the future belongs to those who are bold, ethical, entrepreneurial, and innovative.
Jonathan praised Cavendish University Uganda for instilling employable skills, an innovative mindset, and strong ethical values in its students. He noted that the graduation theme, “Empowering Futures: Cultivating Leaders for a Global Tomorrow,” aptly captured the institution’s vision of preparing its students not only to succeed but to lead.
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Drawing from his personal struggles in accessing education, Jonathan encouraged the graduates to see resilience as their first leadership qualification. “That resilience is your first qualification as a leader,” he said. “Lead with empathy, serve with integrity, and innovate fearlessly.”
He also spoke candidly about leadership from his experience as a former head of state. “Leadership is not just about power or position. It is about service, integrity, and vision. I know too well the weight of leadership. But I also know its immense power to transform lives and communities. That power now rests with each of you.”
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Jonathan cited the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” He urged graduates to be bridge-builders across cultures and to make meaningful contributions both locally and globally.
The former President also shared the legacy of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, noting how her environmental activism began with the simple act of planting trees. “Lead not just with your minds, but with your hearts. Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of you can work to change a small portion of events.”
Jonathan left the graduates with four virtues to guide them in their journey: resilience, responsibility, relevance, and relentless service.
Goodluck Jonathan was appointed Chancellor of Cavendish University Uganda in 2021, succeeding the late Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Zambia’s founding President, Kenneth Kaunda, who previously held the role.
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CUU, established in 2008, is owned by Africa Education Holdings (AEH), a Kenya-based higher education support institute that invests in private universities across Africa. AEH also owns Cavendish University Zambia and partners with several other institutions on the continent.
The graduation ceremony drew faculty, parents, students, and dignitaries from across Africa to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class.
