I greet you ALL in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Distinguish Guest, ladies and gentlemen, we are honoured to have with us the Governor of Central Equatoria State, H.E. Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani with us here as the Guest of Honour representing the President of the Republic South Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit in this historical event. Furthermore, it is a great privileged to have the Secretary General of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. Dear S.G. having you as part of this occasion is awesome, but having you as the Guest Speaker is an incredible honour for us as a church, as an institution as well as a nation. Ladies and gentleman, join me in applauding Rev. Dr. Master Matlhaope.

Our Partners from the National Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology. This is our first graduation in 23 years to be attended by Senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. Our partnership started since 2021 officially and now this presence signifies the bonds that have been established and are growing stronger. Welcome to Yei Town! Welcome to Emmanuel Christian University.

To all the distinguish guest national and state Members of parliament; state ministers, the Church leaders, our security forces, heads of NGOS and NNGOS, media houses. Your presence today makes this day truly remarkable! Thank you for honouring our invitation.

Our partners from Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Germany, Switzerland and Canada, Netherlands and Austria thank you for joining us in this event.

Today we have gathered to celebrate the transition of Emmanuel Christian College to Emmanuel Christian University and 16^th Graduation as an institution. But as we have transitioned to Emmanuel Christian University, this beautiful young men and women seated before us here are the first to graduate as the first batch of Emmanuel Christian University.

This change of name is another stage of metamorphosis in the history of this institution which started in 2001 as Emmanuel Christian Training Centre (ECTC). In 2010 we changed to Emmanuel Christian College and Today WE ARE EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. I joined this institution since 2004 and it is a privilege and honour to witness all this transition process. *******

Your Excellency, Guest of Honour, in spite of this major transitions our mission and vision has remained the same:

the vision of the University remains “a transformed people with academic excellence rooted in the word and glorifying God.”

And the mission is:

“to create a holistic church and society in South Sudan and beyond through transformative education, equipping and encouraging godly men and women to develop sustainable communities.”

Today we are gathered to witness and celebrate the graduation of 111 students who have successfully completed their studies.

Summary of Graduating Students

Graduands, Congratulations to all of you! I thank you for helping us make this day a historical reality. This isn’t just another graduation. This is a special graduation day! It is your day!

My sincere appreciation to your parents, spouses, children, friends, guardians and sponsors for encouraging and helping you to come and study at Emmanuel Christian University.

My deepest appreciation to all ECU administrative staff; the catering team, the finance team, and all those who worked behind the scene over the years of your studies to making this day a success.

Sincere appreciation to the entire the leadership of Reconcile International, particularly Rev. Peter Tibi and the staff, thank you for enabling us to carry on our programs in in your compound.

To the various churches, schools, NGOs, and various government departments for making it possible for our students to do their teaching practice, internship and preaching practice in your facilities. I thank you.

I warmly appreciate our esteemed partners; international and national including the Mundu community. Thank you for your trust and steadfast support for Emmanuel Christian University. You have contributed tremendously in making the dreams of these young men and women a reality.

To the ECU Chancellor and all the distinguished Board members, thank you for your full support throughout. Your commitment to make education available, affordable and accessible to the people of South Sudan and Sudan here at ECU even in the difficult times is remarkable. Thank you!

To the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, we thank you for believing in us and standing with us to make education accessible to all South Sudanese young men and women in Yei Town. Thank you for providing to us an atmosphere in which people from all parts of South Sudan and beyond can live and learn together. Your Excellency, Guest of Honour, thank you for your firm belief in quality education and your support for Emmanuel Christian University.

Above all, our deepest gratitude goes to God; for his Grace and mercies for sustaining us throughout the years but more especially this year. As a nation we have gone through various forms of challenges: insecurity, terrible economy, displacement, hunger, trauma, loss, poor road access, and more. These are difficult times! We are living in tough times. But today in this hour and this occasion we acknowledge that we have come this far by the grace and mercies of God.

Furthermore, the University continues to rise in its status. From its humble beginnings as a Bible training centre since 2001, ECU has evolved with diversified programs: Education, Business Administration, and Leadership Management, Farming, and a school (Emmanuel Christian Academy). ECU is determined to produce a transformed people with academic excellence rooted in the Word and Glorifying God. This means we are committed to nurturing and producing responsible and hardworking men and women whose character would be displayed with a sense of Christ-centeredness, integrity, accountability, excellence, patriotism and servanthood. At Emmanuel Christian University we have made this possible.

The graduands before you come from all the three great regions of South Sudan; Equatoria, Bahr El Ghazal and Upper Nile and the Nuba mountains in Sudan. These students have lived together, studied together, cried together, laughed together and today, in this hour in Yei town, they have made history together. We have dealt squarely with tribalism. If it is possible in Emmanuel Christian University and in Yei, then there is surely hope for a better South Sudan where all men and women will live in peace, harmony and prosperity. This graduation is an indication that this dream, this vision, this ideal is possible.

That is possible if we are intentional about our education. To be specific Education is only a vehicle and a tool that can help us arrive where we want to be.  Mandela once said “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Your Excellency Guest of Honour, ECU has qualified and experienced teaching staff from different tribes, races, denominations and nations from across the world. Common to all these men and women is the strong conviction that a better society is possible through a God-centred Education.

However, realizing this dream will require our concerted efforts as individuals, local communities, churches, government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and all those who love to see our nation progress.

Finally, I wish to greatly appreciate our faculty and staff for serving the university diligently. I thank each one of you for your courage, consistency, resilience, and hard work. You have displayed with great commitment and enthusiasm to our students, to our nation and to God. I salute you.

To our beloved graduands, this is your day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Your commitment to your studies has been remarkable. You have been unstoppable by all means. Congratulations!

You came from your community, and today we are sending you back to your community a different and transformed person. Not just transformed, but rooted in the word and glorifying God. I am confident that you will make a difference in your community. Remember to remember that the best way to make a difference is to serve others. Go out with confidence, take your rightful position, and make your contribution.

Your Excellency, Guest of Honour, Distinguished guests, beloved graduands, staff, students, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you!

                                                                        God bless you!

                                                                       God Bless Emmanuel Christian University!

                                                                      God bless Central Equatoria State

                                                                      God bless South Sudan!

                                                                      Daniel Felix Ohide

                                                                      Vice Chancellor