His Excellency William Alexander McDonald, the High Commissioner of Barbados accredited to Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, and the Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi, recently addressed a graduating class, challenging them to be adaptable and future-ready.
Speaking at Zetech University in Juja, Kiambu County, to 3,216 students receiving degrees, diplomas, and certificates, H.E. McDonald emphasized the necessity for graduates to align themselves with the evolving job market and the demands of the modern workforce.
The Commissioner stressed that graduates must exercise creativity, vision, and courage in their fields to effectively influence, shape, create, and implement their desired future. “Carry with you the skills, values, and resilience needed to shape a brighter tomorrow, not just for yourselves, but for the communities and industries you will serve. Inventing the future is a noble task,” he stated.
He further cautioned that all university and college leavers must stay current with rapidly changing technological trends, especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to remain competitive globally. He posed the question of where human skills fit in a world of increasing mechanization, suggesting that new technologies should be used to complement human resources and improve life.
H.E. McDonald challenged the graduates to become future-oriented thinkers capable of designing innovative solutions for real-world issues. He encouraged them to “Reimagine possibilities, embrace creativity, and lead change… Be architects of progress, equipped to shape a future defined by purpose, impact, and transformation.”
The High Commissioner’s remarks were supported by Zetech University Chancellor Prof. Susan Alfano Nkinyangi. She maintained that higher learning institutions must prioritize innovation and global engagement to ensure students are prepared to contribute and compete on a worldwide scale.
Prof. Nkinyangi noted that in an era of advanced technologies and global collaboration, the focus must extend beyond academic instruction to nurture innovators, policy shapers, and solution builders.
Furthermore, the Chancellor urged the graduates to leverage soft skills in their careers and build valuable networks for success. She emphasized the collaborative nature of success, stating, “Your future will be shaped by who you collaborate with. Invest in healthy relationships. Seek mentors. Uplift peers. Collaborate across disciplines, sectors, and borders. The future is not solo; it is symphonic.”
The ceremony was also attended by Prof. Mike Kuria, CEO of the Commission for University Education, and Dr. Agnes Wahome, CEO of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services.
