Address by Princess Zahra Aga Khan
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Chancellor, Chair, and members of the AKU Board of Trustees,
Chair and members of the AKU Kenya University Council,
President and Vice Chancellor,
Leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University,
Family members of our graduates,
And above all, Members of the Class of 2024:
Throughout the past forty years, AKU convocations brought my father, our Founding Chancellor, immense joy and pride. Despite the deep sorrow that we all feel at this time, today’s convocation remains an inspiring occasion, and it is especially meaningful as we honour his legacy of visionary leadership, unwavering support, and great love for this University and its people. My father was immensely proud of each and every individual who graduated from AKU, and this convocation is unique as you graduating today will be the last class who studied under his wise and meticulous attention, so I feel his sense of pride in you.
It brings me much happiness that my brother, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, in accordance with my father’s wishes and the founding charter of AKU, has become our Chancellor. Therefore, on behalf of our new Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the members of the Class of 2024.
This is your day, and we celebrate all that you have worked so arduously to achieve. No one can reach their full potential alone, so we would also like to recognise the support of your families, friends, classmates throughout these years.
From a young age, I had the privilege of joining my father on his ambitious journey to create AKU. I first accompanied him to a Convocation in 1994, soon after I graduated myself. And that was the beginning of my inspiration and admiration for the promise and impact of this institution. Today is particularly special as I share this Convocation with my children, Sara and Iliyan, and it is a wonderful opportunity for them to see first-hand the impact of their grandfather’s commitment to education and his wider mission to improve quality of life and build a more prosperous, peaceful and pluralist world.
Joining my father on the AKU Board of Trustees was an extraordinary opportunity to learn from him and his inspiring leadership. I would like to acknowledge and thank all those colleagues, past and present, who were also part of this journey, and worked so committedly – at times, astonishingly quickly – to realise my father’s vision.
The vision that my father laid out for this University, and indeed he insisted upon it, was for an “international institution of distinction— serving the developing world and Muslim societies in innovative and enduring ways”, one that would meet or surpass global standards of excellence in all its dimensions. In the design of its campuses and facilities, in its faculty, staff, and students; in its academic offerings and research programmes; in the quality of its services.
Our Founding Chancellor emphasised that “a distinguished university is not built in a decade, nor even in a generation.” That long-term approach and commitment to excellence are qualities shared by all the agencies of the wider Aga Khan Development Network. Through the Network, my father created and nurtured an astounding number of institutions and programmes focused on strengthening human capabilities and well-being, building resilient communities, generating inclusive economic growth, honouring cultural heritage, and protecting the natural environment.
Education is the cornerstone of everything that the AKDN does, and it is the key to improving quality of life. My father invested in education at every level, from early childhood development to PhD level studies. And he founded not one, but two universities, AKU and the University of Central Asia, to provide the capstones for our educational system.
As my father would be the first to say, bringing the vision of AKU and the AKDN to life required the dedication, encouragement and support of many, so I would like to give my thanks:
To The Government of Kenya, for your longstanding confidence in our institution and its mission—and for continuing to provide an enabling environment for AKU to invest in new health and education projects in the country and the region.
To AKU’s Trustees who have provided wise counsel to ensure the University maintains its values and clarity of mission as it evolves to meet future needs and opportunities. It has been a privilege to learn from and work with you.
Our donors and volunteers who have generously given their time, knowledge, skills, and resources in support of our work, and the meaningful partnerships with diverse local and global collaborators have all enhanced AKU’s capacities.
The dedication and talent of AKU’s faculty, management and staff who have inspired and supported thousands of students in the health sciences, teaching and school improvement, and media and communications.
I would also like to thank our alumni living around the world, who embody our Founding Chancellor’s aspiration for AKU graduates to be leaders and agents of change who will transform their professions, take on societal challenges, give excellent care to thousands of patients and uplift humanity.
My father firmly believed in the capacity for human innovation, reflection, and adaptation. He believed in our collective ability to overcome global challenges by building a framework to nurture vibrant communities which enables individuals to reach their full potential. He believed that humanity has the ingenuity to improve the future of our planet. My father believed in hope.
As expressed by President Shahabuddin, and evident in the optimism that has permeated every AKU convocation since 1983, hope is here today. I see it before me in our graduands: agents of change, empathetic leaders, innovators and critical thinkers. You are an impressive cadre of professionals whose knowledge and skills the world so urgently needs.
You are women and men who can navigate the complexity of the global landscape: individuals well equipped to draw upon human ingenuity and foster pluralistic approaches to build a better future where we can all thrive.
Graduands, we all have faith that you will spread hope as you step out into the world with confidence, curiosity and compassion, and that you will honour and sustain the guiding principles of our Founding Chancellor.
Thank you.
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