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By Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
It was the 2024 graduation of the University of Bolton in the United Kingdom. Though Nigeria is several miles away, the spirit of her excellence and culture took the centre stage as African Amazon, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stepped out to receive her award.
The WTO DG had flown in from her base in Geneva, Switzerland, for two important events, the first was to sign a memorandum of understanding on the collaboration of application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in World Trade between the University of Bolton and the global trade body, and, the second, a conferment of the honorary award.
The ceremony was a week-long event, but the event graced by Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stole the show and remained the talk of the town.
Vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor George Holmes, was astounded by the deafening noise from the hall as he called the DG to the podium.
Nigerians in the hall, the graduating students and their relatives, who considerably formed half of the people at the ceremony, responded with much cheering and a standing ovation.
For most of them it was like a dream beholding and seeing Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance in Nigeria with many international credentials, in person.
A true Nigerian, Okonjo-Iweala had stepped out in her usual Nigerian Ankara fabric with her head tie and not even the graduation regalia could rob of her cultural carriage and charisma.
The audience was further thrown into more excitement and frenzy after the award as the Nigerian Amazon stood by to give the graduating students handshakes.
As Nigerian students came out for their awards, people from other cultural background were amazed seeing some Nigerian students prostrating and kneeling down to greet the WTO DG in reference to her age and to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural values.
Overwhelmed by Nigeria’s presence almost dominating the hall, other graduating students from other countries, out of reverence tried to shout the name of their countries on the podium.
Importance of education on future
The WTO boss noted that the honorary doctorate award reminded her of the importance of education and the “role it plays in shaping our future”.
“Education is the cornerstone of progress, and institutions like the University of Bolton are at the forefront of this noble endeavour,” she said.
She reasoned that some of the students will leave the ceremony bearing degrees in fields such as artificial intelligence, animation, game design, adding that “wherever you end up working, you will be able to provide your expertise everywhere in the world via the internet.” She expressed that others are graduating in health professions, early childhood education, and social care – precisely the kinds of work in which humans cannot easily be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence.
“I wish each of you the very best. Most of you have fought hard to be here. You know deep within yourselves something my parents always said: education is a privilege, not a right. Even though you have earned every ounce of that privilege, it comes with the responsibility to help others,” she charged.
Okonjo-Iweala said she has been enormously fortunate in her career, but stated that if she can offer some thoughts based on her own experiences, it would be that the graduating students should, “focus on making a difference, on delivering results for people. Do your best, whatever role you are in– and, ideally, also have some fun.”
She stated, “You know the saying – if you want to make change, be the change you want. If you have reasons bigger than yourself, and if you never give up, you are more powerful than you know.
“Go out and make a difference – for yourselves, your families, your communities, and your countries.
As we navigate the complexities of our interconnected world, the values of cooperation, mutual respect, and understanding that both the WTO and the University of Bolton uphold are more crucial than ever. Together, we can build a future where trade and education contribute to peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for all.”
The Award
Expressing the importance of the award, the WTO DG said the honorary degree is particularly significant for her because of how the University of Bolton and its history ties to global trade, economic change and their impacts on people’s lives.
Taking time to commend the university’s leadership, she most especially recognize Professor Celestine Iwendi, a hardworking and brilliant Nigerian of whom she said “we are proud.”
“As the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, I am privileged to lead an institution that plays a vital role in the global economy. The WTO’s mission is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible. We work tirelessly to create a level playing field for all nations, promoting peace and prosperity through international trade,” she said of the global institution she is leading.
According to Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. “At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations 166 in total and ratified in their parliaments. Our primary purpose is to support open trade for the benefit of all especially through raising peoples living standards, creating jobs and supporting sustainable development.”
On the roles of WTO, she said these are achieved through many aspects, which include facilitating trade negotiations by providing a forum for multilateral and plurilateral negotiations to reduce barriers to trade and ensure fair competition.
Others are the administration of trade agreements through overseeing the implementation and administration of multilateral trade agreements.
The third she said is settling trade disputes through dispute resolution mechanism which helps member countries resolve conflicts amicably, preventing trade wars and fostering stability.
The WTO DG said through monitoring, the global body review the trade policies and practices of member nations, ensuring transparency and compliance
On technical assistance and training, she said WTO provides support to developing countries to help them build their trade capacity and participate more effectively in the global trading system.
Recognizing the remarkable achievements of the University of Bolton, Okonjo-Iweala said the University has made significant strides in fostering innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence.
She listed the giant strides of the University in the area of outstanding teaching and learning, stating that the University of Bolton is renowned for its high-quality teaching and student satisfaction and consistently ranks highly in national student surveys.
In the area of research, the Director General said the university is making significant contributions to research, particularly in areas such as health starting a new medica school, technology and in Artificial intelligence, and the social sciences.
“Its research initiatives are helping to solve real-world problems and advance knowledge. To this end, the University of Bolton will partner with the WTO to create novel AI applications in trade. We have just created a new AI and Frontier Technologies Unit at the WTO Secretariat,” she stated
She added that the University has a strong commitment to its local community as it plays a crucial role in regional development, providing opportunities for lifelong learning and community enrichment.
“The University of Bolton prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming to students from all backgrounds. It is dedicated to providing equal opportunities for all, fostering a diverse and vibrant academic community. Inclusivity is a cherished objective for us at the WTO,” she stated.
Earlier the Vice Chancellor, Professor George Holmes said research on average shows that university graduates earn more over their lifetime than non-graduates.
“They are usually healthier and contribute more to wider society than non-graduates,” he said.
He noted that individual circumstances may differ, but graduating students can be proud that they have undertaken a rigorous process of higher learning, been examined and have emerged successfully.
On her part, the Student Union President, Jasneet Khan encouraged the graduating students to live in the present, follow their heart and do extra ordinary things as they step into the future.
“Go with the hearts that all things are possible,” she charged.
