ADDRESS BY THE
PRESIDENT OF SIERRA LEONE HIS EXCELLENCY ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH
ON RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS AND ON BEHALF OF
GRADUATES OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF PEACE STUDIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES
AND HUMANITIES, AND THE BRADFORD CENTRE FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
Thursday 20 July 2006
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Chancellor
Members of Faculty and Staff
Fellow Honouree and Graduates
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I understand that there are ten good reasons why prospective students should choose to study at the University of Bradford. Unfortunately, no one ever asked me the question: "why choose Bradford?" And no one gave me an idea of the ten good reasons why I should. So, you can say it was my loss.
However, I am grateful - and this is my gain - that the University found a number of good reasons why I should be honoured three times here today. The first is the award to me of the prestigious degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa). The second is the honour of sharing the platform with a Nobel Peace Laureate, John Hume; and third is the privilege of speaking on behalf of all those who are receiving degrees and diplomas at this ceremony.
Each recipient has every reason to be proud of his or her achievement. Despite the wide range of modern facilities for study, research and student life, you all have had to persevere and make personal sacrifice in pursuit of your academic goals. However, your success is yours but not yours alone. There are others we must acknowledge. So Chancellor, with your permission, I would like to add a Sierra Leonean touch to this ceremony by asking the Congregation to give a round of applause, simultaneously for the graduating class, the University faculty and staff, and for the families, friends, benefactors and others who, in one way or the other made this day of celebration possible.
Thank you very much.
Chancellor, the University of Bradford is today sending men and women into a world of extreme contrasts; a world of countless opportunities and formidable challenges. The question is how equipped are we to meet those challenges, such as human insecurity, prolonged armed conflict and economic underdevelopment? I believe one must begin by learning, developing, practicing and promoting a culture of peace and tolerance. This is derived first, from my own nurturing and personal philosophy, and second from the lessons I and the people of Sierra Leone have learned from the experience of eleven years of brutal and unnecessary armed conflict.
Speaking of tolerance, what do you expect from a Muslim boy who spent all his high school years in a Catholic school, and later went on to marry a Catholic while remaining a Muslim? And what effect would a long public service in all provinces of your country have on your relations with your compatriots?
When you work for the United Nations, as I did in New York, East, Central and Southern Africa for more than two decades; and when you serve Members that pledge to "practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours", one will no doubt assimilate at least some of the culture of peace and tolerance of that Organization.
Chancellor, members of this Congregation, the transition from a retired international civil servant to President of a country, one of the least-developed in the world, already torn apart by a rebel war which was fuelled by the so-called 'conflict diamonds' was challenging. However, by accelerating a peace process based on national reconciliation, we succeeded in persuading our adversaries to see reason and save our country from further destruction.
As it turned out in 1999, and while we were engaged in formulating and implementing, with the help of the international community, a comprehensive programme of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration, we were faced with the challenge of a massive and brutal rebel offensive.
Peace, lasting peace, national reconciliation and sustainable development - these were my objectives during those dark days. They were also the objectives of the people of Sierra Leone. With their concurrence and blessing I signed a new Peace Agreement with the rebel movement in July 1999 in Lome, the capital of Togo. That document which, in spite of its weaknesses, and attitude of the rebels to the implementation process notwithstanding, paved the way for subsequent developments to end the war.
Next year, I will be leaving the office of President of Sierra Leone after having served two five-year terms, parts of which were interrupted by a military and rebel/military juntas. Constitutionally, I cannot seek, nor am I interested in seeking re-election.
Now, to my friends who are receiving degrees and diplomas here today, whatever your discipline, whatever your specialization, and whatever your plans for the future, I hope you will take pride in the fact that you earned your degree or diploma from an institution that includes the leading academic centre for peace and conflict studies in the world.
Bradford has made and continues to make an invaluable contribution to the development and promotion of a culture of peace. In 1999, as Chancellor, I asked the University of Sierra Leone to make a symbolic endorsement of the Lome Peace Agreement. I also proposed that the University contribute to the consolidation of peace and reconciliation by incorporating peace education - conflict prevention, conflict management, mediation and resolution - into its curriculum. Thanks to the University of Bradford, that objective is now being realized.
Once again I would like to congratulate all my fellow recipients of degrees and diplomas and their relatives and friends. On my own behalf I would like to extend my warmest appreciation to the University for the honour bestowed on me today, an honour that I will share with the people of Sierra Leone.
I thank you all for your attention.