Dear graduates, distinguished colleagues from the University of South Africa, families of graduates and invited guests
As we gather here today, on this momentous occasion that celebrates not only the remarkable accomplishments of our graduates but also heralds a new chapter for our nation. We come together to honour the dedication of our young men and women who have achieved their Master of Laws degrees from the esteemed University of South Africa, and institution of higher learning for 150 years. Thus, I would extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of the graduates present here today.
It gives me a great pleasure to welcome our distinguished guests from the University of South Africa who are present here with us. Your visit to Eritrea could not have come at a more opportune time, when the nation is in a blissful mood – celebrating its 33rd independence anniversary. Coming from South Africa, enduring the terrible legacy of apartheid, I am sure you do feel and understand, the pain and the quest for justice that the Eritrean people have to go through to achieve its independence. Without talking too much about history, suffice it to mention this year’s Independence Day theme – ‘Peace anchored on Resilience’. I am sure during your stay here in Eritrea, you will be able to understand the significance of this theme to every Eritrean citizen.
Dear graduates, invited guests, and parents,
The 2024 theme of the African union is “educate an African fit for the 21st century. Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa”. No other theme could have been more relevant to Eritrea’s policy and legal framework on Education than this one.
At the forefront of this transformative journey stands the Ministry of Justice, steadfast in its mission to cultivate human potential. With the conviction that a robust justice system is the bedrock of a fair and equitable society, the Ministry has tirelessly worked to refine the legal acumen of our personnel. Through initiatives like the Master’s program at the University of South Africa, we have enriched the expertise of our staff, equipping them to make substantial contributions to our nation’s justice administration. This endeavour ensures efficient, impartial, and high-quality access to justice, safeguarding our national principles in harmony with both domestic and international progress, while bolstering our human and institutional capacities.
Dear graduates, invited guests, and parents,
This momentous occasion is made possible and further enriched by the collaborative efforts the Ministry of Justice of the State of Eritrea, the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). At the core of the project was the desire to enhance staff development, ensure mutual exchange of ideas solidarity and cooperation for advancing education and capacity building. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the decades long partnership between our institutions and particularly for their comprehensive support towards making this post-graduate program with UNISA a success, by all standards.
Dear graduates, invited guests, and parents,
On this auspicious day, it is imperative to reflect on how we see our cooperation with UNISA. For Eritrea, the realm of justice isn’t an affair of the courts. Justice transcends more than the resolution of conflicts in a society. For Eritrea, justice is about equality, participation, empowerment and promotion of social justice. We see our cooperation with UNISA within this framework. For us this cooperation transcends beyond awarding certificates and authorizing the knowledge of our graduates. For us it also means an evolving process of cooperation for relevance of the ‘course content’ to the Eritrean context. From our perspective, we see this cooperation as a mechanism to challenge some of the inherent assumptions that have driven higher education in less developed countries, especially Africa: that theory is produced elsewhere and applied at home. The result is to get young graduates glued on a set of western ideas and norms, as if they are sacred. Our cooperation with UNISA is therefore an integral part of our efforts to produce ‘reasoning’ legal experts with deeper understanding in their history, values and society. Hence, I believe, the next step in strengthening our cooperation should be to explore the possibilities to develop home-grown programme for Eritrean students.
Dear graduates, invited guests, and parents,
Our staff are graduating at a critical time, when the Ministry is making all the efforts to establish a legal framework that is consistent with Eritrea’s value systems. To be part of this important process – to give contextual content to the abstract notion of “the rule of law” – and give it a meaning in a manner that is consistent with Eritrea’s history and its value systems is a huge challenge and a great opportunity. The legal profession is one in which you can make an enormous difference in the lives of individuals and in the welfare of society as a whole. Indeed, a society is strong to the extent that the foundation of its laws is consistent with its value systems and its experts in law are among its foremost leaders. And you could not have done so at a more important, more interesting, more challenging time; when the national, regional, continental and global dynamics is witnessing so much change.
Dear graduates,
Finally, I would like to remark how privileged I feel to see you achieve this milestone. You are an extraordinary group – not only in your performances, but in the promise you represent. That promise for Eritrea is to serve the society that have paid so much for your education with dedication and integrity. To share its values, feel its challenges and commit for its transformation.
And, as you deservedly celebrate your graduation, I Urge you to think beyond that gown and contemplate the level of sacrifice others have paid for you to reach this level. I have no doubt that you will renew your commitment to serve your people and country to the level they expect you.
Congratulations once Again!
Happy 33rd Independence Anniversary!
Victory to the Masses! Thank you!