 Thank you, Paul, for your kind introduction. Graduates, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, I'm truly honored to be here with you today at your graduation from one of the finest universities in the world focusing on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In my capacity as president of SOAS University of London, it's my pleasure to welcome you and our graduates, families, friends, and supporters to this occasion of celebration. As it is just has been mentioned, I've been a social and political activist over many decades, and I have advocated for women's and child rights. Joining SOAS family is enriching me personally and enlightens my work and that of networks I am associated with. It has been proved that education sows the seeds of transformation, depends on our understanding of one another and the world. It also helps us to build bridges across cultures and nations. Madiba once said, and I quote, education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, unquote. But for me, this can be summarized in one word, empowerment. SOAS offers a rare opportunity for students and academic staff to experience on a daily basis interaction and exposure to what they call microcosmos of the world. You will hardly find another place that brings together knowledge from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and where rich diversity of cultures and backgrounds, learning, discovery, and critical thinking are nurtured and enhanced. What makes SOAS a special place and with a global perspective. You have been blessed with an exceptional education. I urge you to use it wisely and apply the learnings you gained here to your personal life, at your workplace, in your communities, and in your countries to make a difference. For almost 100 years, SOAS has made a tremendous impact on the lives of those who have walked through its doors and many have achieved positions of power and influence in their respective countries and the regions. It is a huge concern that the regions of SOAS focus, namely Asia, Africa, and Middle East, have been confronted with growing conflicts fueled by political, religious, racial, and ethnic intolerance, inequality, and competition over resources. Perhaps this is the biggest challenge of your generation. It is my hope that you young people will raise to this challenge with creativity, resolve, and generosity. Do use your knowledge to break the cycle of violence and create a movement where as humans we value, respect, and accept difference in diversity as our common strength. This way we nurture and live in peaceful and cohesive societies where social justice prevails. 2015 is a milestone year for the world. It is the last year of the Millennium Development Goals and entails evaluation. It marks the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals this September during the UN General Assembly. World leaders will then attend the Climate Change Summit in Paris in December. Certainly this year is a turning point. The solemn commitment to end poverty in the next 15 years will affect every sector of your personal life as individuals, as members of your family, your community, and your professional life. You, 2015 Sowers graduates, will join the workforce at the beginning of this historical milestone where the human family pledges that every one of us is our brothers and sisters' keeper and no one should be left behind. I challenge you to offer your knowledge and skills that you have gained and developed here at Sowers, having as a driving motor that commitment to end poverty in your lifetime and leave no one behind. You will have to be innovative. Change the business as usual attitude. Set ambitious targets and milestones. Stand and be counted as part of the wave of change required to embrace the millions who live in deprivation so they too can benefit from the resources, the knowledge, the innovation and technology, and the best our societies have to offer and have been accumulated throughout our human history. Do not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to injustices. When a person is denied his or her human rights, it is your dignity which is being affronted. Your personal freedom that you have been privileged with will never be complete while others are denied the same kind of freedom. As humans, we are able to influence our personal transformation as well as the transformation of the society we want. We are only limited by our own imagination. Before I conclude, I'd like to leave you with some advice. First, take action and be passionate about what you do. Second, inform yourself at all times. Expand your knowledge constantly to sharpen the tools you need to serve society. Third, create your own definition of success. Money and power are often seen as measures of success. Yet for me, success is to have peace of mind, attain through the knowledge that I have made my best effort to do the best of which I am capable of. To do everything in my power to reach out and work with others to provide a life of dignity for all. Fourth, be prepared to make sacrifices for what you believe in. The end result will exceed your dreams. Fifth, be prepared to have setbacks and sometimes make mistakes, since we all inevitably do so. What is important is what you learn from them. After a setback, pick up yourself and keep your determination to pursue your purpose. You are much, much stronger than you can think. Six, take care of your family and friends. They will sustain you through difficult times and celebrate with you your successes. Let me end by congratulating each and every one of our graduates. You will be always part of SOAS. And SOAS will always be part of you. I thank you.