About 1400 students were awarded Degrees, Diplomas, Masters, and PhD. They included about 1100 diplomas and bachelor degree, 160 post graduate diplomas, 120 Master degrees, and 7 PhD degrees.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, congratulated the graduands and their families, and the University of Juba Administration for the success achieved so far.
The University of Juba held its 21st graduation ceremony on Saturday August 11, 2018 at Custom Campus, Juba. The graduation ceremony was presided over by President Salva Kiir Mayardit who is the Chancellor of all public universities in the Republic of South Sudan.
He hinted that illiteracy, underdevelopment, and indulgence in politics before sufficient experience by graduands are some of the challenges facing the country. He encouraged the graduands to be employed in their states and utilize their specialist knowledge to provide services to the people.
Furthermore, the President expressed his optimism about the future prospects for the graduands in the light of the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in August 2018, adding that it will put an end to the current senseless war that has been hindering socio-economic development, as well as destroying the little development achieved through the hard-earned independence in 2011.
On the same occasion, President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced the plans by the government to establish Petroleum Institute of Technology and Applied Sciences (PITAS) at the University of Juba in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, Nile Petroleum Cooperation, and Oil Operating Companies. He reiterated the crucial role the Institute will play in raising the nation’s technical and managerial capacity to exploit our vast natural resources for our industrial and socioeconomic development.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Professor John Apuruot Akec, thanked the President for taking time to lead the graduation ceremony. Prof. Akec also congratulated the graduands for their great achievement and exhorted them to go out and serve in the community with diligence and integrity, striving always to be good ambassadors for the University of Juba.