IUEA holds 12th graduation ceremony, celebrates innovation and skills development

27 November 2025, 6:32 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The International University of East Africa (IUEA) today held its 12th graduation ceremony, awarding degrees and diplomas to more than 600 students from various disciplines. The event was held under the theme: “Building Business and Lives from University Breakthroughs.”

Speaking as the chief guest, the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysestom Muyingo, applauded the institution for its continued contribution to empowering young Ugandans with relevant knowledge and practical skills.

“It is a great honour for me to be here today at the International University of East Africa, an institution that over the years has grown into one of Uganda’s most recognisable and forward-looking centres of education,” he said. “The theme fits directly with what we are working towards as a country. Uganda is focused on empowering young people, strengthening a knowledge-driven economy, and supporting institutions that turn ideas into enterprises that create jobs, generate wealth, and uplift families.”

Muyingo commended IUEA for leading the way in Artificial Intelligence education, including establishing AI-driven applications, curriculum, and research capacity, achievements he noted few institutions on the continent have attained. He urged graduates to uphold discipline and integrity as they enter the world beyond university.

“To the graduates, you are the continuation of this bold and inspiring story. Government has invested heavily in educating this generation, and even more can be achieved when empowered,” he said.

IUEA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa, highlighted the university’s pioneering role in introducing Artificial Intelligence into its curriculum in 2015 and establishing innovation labs that transform ideas into tangible products.

“In today’s Africa, education cannot exist in isolation. Ivory towers are extinct, like dinosaurs,” he said. “At IUEA, we do not train job seekers; we nurture job creators. We do not wait for opportunities—we build them right here in Uganda and across Africa. Today, we are setting a new trend of building businesses and lives through university breakthroughs.”

The ceremony celebrated academic achievement, innovation, and a strong commitment to developing graduates capable of competing and creating solutions in an evolving global economy.