PRESIDENT TUBMAN RECEIVES HONORARY DEGREE
In this University, which We founded as
the first in Our country a year and a half ago, it gives Us great pleasure to
confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws upon His Excellency Mr. Tubman,
the leader of a country which has for long been a torch of freedom to the lands
of West Africa. It gives Us special pleasure that His Excellency is the first
African leader to receive an honorary degree from this University.
In as much as
His Excellency President Tubman is the founder and creator of the new Liberia,
he is to be considered a great leader who has expanded the utmost effort to put
his country on a firm basis in regard to education, public health, and economic
prosperity – in sum, to assure for his country healthy growth and unity. From
the time when he was first chosen to be the leader of his country – a
circumstance that has been repeated time and again – he has laboured as the
leader of his country for nineteen years. This may be regarded as the primary
proof of the affection which he has inspired among his people. The greatness of
a leader may be estimated in the first instance by the improvement of his
country – his contribution to the prosperity of his own people – and, furthermore,
to that of neighbouring lands. More generally, it is shown through the
sacrifices he performs and exhibits in order to maintain the welfare of mankind
and to preserve the peace of the world. And, in these respects, President
Tubman is a champion of freedom who has done everything it is within his power
to do.
His leadership
of a Liberia which has long maintained her independence, the unity and progress
he has secured for her people, and the efforts made on his part to enable those
Africans who have in their own lands perforce put on the garments of freedom
and suffered oppression at alien hands to gain their independence – because of
all these achievements it is Our hope that the conferring upon His Excellency
of an honorary degree at this University may be an inspiration to African
students who will go forth by the thousands as true supporters both of their
own countries and of a united Africa, whose future leaders they may become.
Education is the
key to a nation’s progress, and We Africans must bear that in mind. We are now
to be found expending our utmost energies and re-sources upon education. Ethiopia,
on her part, recognizing the proven value of education, has awarded
scholarships to African students so that they may come here for their studies.
Some of the Africans who came here earlier on this basis completed their
studies and graduated at our various colleges, and have returned to their
respective countries, where they are now to be found giving their services.
Besides the advantage which this procedure affords through the services they
render to their own individual countries, We are confident that it will provide
firm bridges to assist the endeavours of the leaders who are presently
labouring in the cause of African unity.
As a token of
the exceptional services rendered by Your Excellency to your country and to the
whole of Africa, it gives Us great pleasure to confer upon you the honorary
degree of Doctor of Laws.
May
16, 1963.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
– page 619 –
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