Princess Zahra presides over AKU graduation in Nairobi

The graduates were urged to look beyond personal success and harness their education to make a real impact in the world, using their knowledge to address pressing social challenges, improve communities, and drive innovation across health, education, and media sectors.

His Highness the Aga Khan V, who is the chancellor of the university, told the graduates that modern knowledge presents an “extraordinary opportunity” to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from public health to climate change.

“When we educate an individual, we do not merely confer a personal asset that can never be taken away; we set in motion a powerful ripple effect that extends to families and communities,” said His Highness the Aga Khan through a video message.

He noted that with tools ranging from artificial intelligence to climate science, the graduates bear a unique responsibility to apply knowledge in ways that improve the quality of human life.

Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, the AKU president, noted that five Kenyan faculty members were ranked among the top two per cent of scientists globally, adding that some are working with various public hospitals in Kenya to improve care for new-born babies and conducting one of the largest studies of ageing in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Kenya’s future will not be shaped by policies and capital alone. It will be shaped by professionals like you – the class of 2025 – who embody integrity, competence, and humility in the vital work of serving the public good,” said Dr Shahabuddin.

Further, Dr Shahabuddin noted that the graduates, including Steve Omondi - a web editor at Nation Media Group who graduated with a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism, stand at a critical crossroads, transitioning from learning to responsibility and from preparation to service.

He highlighted AKU’s achievements over the past year, including the introduction of 18 new degrees – five of them in Kenya – and 11 specialty training programmes for physicians, resulting in a 40 percent growth in the student body.

He also noted research milestones, with 27 faculty ranked among the top two percent globally, more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications in 2025, and over $100 million in research funding secured.

Dr Shahabuddin also emphasised AKU’s commitment to climate action, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 3,000 tons, and the university’s partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services to strengthen integrated health care in East Africa, serving nearly two million patients annually.

“In the past five years, we have introduced 18 new degrees – eight of them right here in East Africa – to prepare future leaders like the class of 2025. Here in Kenya, we have rolled out five new degrees and 11 specialty training programmes for physicians. In the process, we have grown our student body in Kenya by 40 percent,” he said.

“AKU is also acting decisively to reduce its carbon footprint and to help populations most affected by climate change adapt and build resilience. This year, we aim to reduce emissions across our campuses by nearly 3,000 tons. That’s the equivalent of taking 1,800 cars off the road,” he added.

He urged graduates to carry forward the values of integrity, competence, and humility, reminding them that education comes with responsibility: to choose purpose over ease, service over self, and integrity over advantage.

Ms Doreen Wainaina, the valedictorian of the class of 2025, said: “We are entering spaces where we can influence policy, redefine leadership, and contribute meaningfully to our respective industries of health, education, media and communications.”

“The true measure of opportunity is not what it gives us, but what we choose to give back as a result of it,” she added.

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