Speech of The Day (272) - 5th Commencement Exercices of the University College of Addis Ababa

On Friday, July 11,1958, His Imperial Majesty

Haile Selassie I attended the Fifth Commencement

Exercises of the University College of

Addis Ababa. On this occasion His Imperial

Majesty handed to the students certificates &

diplomas. Below is the speech delivered by the

Emperor, who is the Chancellor of the University:

"We have observed with satisfaction the progress

achieved by Our University College during the past

year - the increase in the number of students and the

successful functioning of the Arts" Building and the

Geophysical Observatory which were inaugurated by

Us this year.

But happy as We are with these achievements, We

must all realize that progress in this or in any educational

institution does not rest solely in material accomplishments

or in the furnishing of competent academic training.

We have often referred in the past to the need for

instilling in our students that sense of social responsibility

which is of such fundamental importance in

modern society, and as you graduates leave today to

continue higher studies elsewhere, or to begin your

careers, We would like to reemphasize this principle, and

to restate the ideals of the professional life upon which

you are embarking.

A profession entails more than special training and

the acquisition of particular skills. The motive of

rendering service to others, and not the desire to amass

wealth, must hold first priority in any profession. This

is not to say that money is not essential for meeting

your needs and those of your families. However,

one must not be so overcome by the desire for riches

that he neglects the greater and nobler aim, that of

serving his country. The function of a doctor, an

engineer, a lawyer, a teacher, or any other professional

man is not to be master of others and to be served by

them. It is, rather, he who is at the disposal of his fellowmen.

A fully-educated man, closely linked to his profession

and to the people whom he serves, must put aside the

desire to acquire wealth and refuse to be swayed by the

attractions of easy life. His paramount duty is, if a

doctor, the cause of good health in the nation; if a

lawyer, the public welfare and the promotion of justice;

if a teacher, the education of his students and the harmonious

development of their personalities. A man of

any profession must remain faithful to his calling and

must sacrifice his selfish interests for the sake of those

whom he serves. The ideal doctor feels more joy at the

recovery of his patients than do those whose sufferings

he has relieved. This should be the case with each

profession.

This is the standard of professional responsibility

that is expected and indeed, demanded of you, the

graduates of 1950, (E.C.) who are to be the professionals

of tomorrow.

Last year, when We spoke to the graduating class of

this institution of the need for developing their spirit of

self-sacrifice, We made special mention of the field of

medicine, from which too many are deterred because of

the exacting preparation, the heavy responsibilities and

the constant devotion which it demands. A doctor is

not merely a skilled instrument, probing the causes and

prescribing the treatment of disease, but is also a man

serving his fellow-men, to whose cause he has dedicated

his life in a spirit of self-denial.

We need not speak in detail of the other professions

such as law, engineering or public administration, for

there is no one here who does not realize the extent to

which these as well are related to the ideal of public

service.

In this modern day, when material goals and selfish

aims dominate the scene of human effort, this high

professional ideal of self-sacrifice and self-less devotion

to one's fellowmen may appear too remote, its demands

too servere. But man is not meant to live for himself

alone. He exists with others and for others, and it is

this sense of social consciousness which distinguishes

him from all other beings. And this goal can and will be

attained by those who realize the tremendous potential

of spiritual strength and their stay in striving ceaselessly

for the attainment of this high objective.

It is for this reason, that We have never failed to

stress to Our people the need and the value of education.

The truly educated man is endowed with a sense of

obligation to society. The potentialities of Education

are unlimited. The acquisition of knowledge and skill

class for patient learning and hard work, but without

education, a man is nothing - a promise unfulfilled,

a potential unrealized.

In the hands of those whose minds are not guided

by a basic concern for humanity, however, education

can become a dangerous and destructive weapon. We

would, accordingly, remind you of the words which We

spoke in 1947, (E.C.) when We set forth the precepts to

guide those to whom We had entrusted the responsibility

for educating Our people and described the duties and

principles to govern the way of life of an ideal teacher in

present day society.

A teacher must not pursue the fleeting pleasures

of the moment. His teaching must be designed to

develop boys and girls into loyal citizens who will respect

and cherish their own tradition and culture. Learning

without moral education is fruitless and students must be

taught that the true measure of value is not material

advantage. In acquiring modern education the student

is not to neglect his own traditions and culture, but,

must, to the contrary, respect and preserve all that

is good in the Ethiopian way of life. This is the high

standard which all teachers must establish and maintain

for themselves and by which they will be an example for

their students. If there is a failure here, there will

come a time when the emptiness of his efforts will be

revealed.

Today, as We hand your diplomas to you, We would

have the following words of counsel engraved on your

minds. Be intelligent and loyal servants, men of

honour, fully conscious of the value of time, wise and

humble, ever aware of the burden of your responsibility,

willing to forget yourselves for the sake of your fellowmen.

We hope that Our University College has furnished

you with the education which will equip you to reach

this goal. We express Our gratitude to the members

of the Board of Governors, the Acting President and the

teaching staff of this institution for their devoted labours.

And to you graduates of the Class of 1950, (E.C.) we

wish you every success in your careers."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 62 -