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Honorary Doctorate – Special

Convocation Ceremony

President of South Africa, Matamela Cyril
Ramaphosa

Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, Honourable guests,
Excellencies, colleagues, and distinguished members of the Universiti Malaya
community,
1. It is a historic moment when a university has the honour to recognise a leader
whose life’s work has transformed not only his nation, but the conscience of the
world.
2. Thirty five years have passed since we honoured the great Nelson Mandela in this
very hall, and now another historic moment will be made in similar level of pride
and pomp.
3. Today, Universiti Malaya proudly confers upon His Excellency President Cyril
Ramaphosa the Honorary Doctorate in International Relations - in tribute to his
unwavering pursuit of justice, peace, and human dignity.
4. From the streets of Soweto to the corridors of the African Union and the United 197
Nations, President Ramaphosa has embodied the power of moral courage and
patient diplomacy.
5. He was a towering figure in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid - a
negotiator who chose peace over vengeance, dialogue over division. As Chair
of the Constitutional Assembly, he helped shape one of the most progressive
constitutions in human history - a living charter of equality, freedom, and human
rights that continues to inspire nations worldwide.
6. He built bridges between the boardroom and the township, between government
and the governed - nurturing education, entrepreneurship, and empowerment
through the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.
7. He has championed the cause of workers, of youth, and of those left behind.And
as President, he continues to remind the world that true leadership is measured
not in power, but in conscience - in how one uplifts others to stand taller.
8. For Universiti Malaya, this recognition carries special meaning. We honour
President Ramaphosa not only for his nation’s journey, but for the values that
bind us together - the belief that peace must be built upon knowledge, that justice
must be sustained by education, and that prosperity must be shared through
cooperation.
9. Malaysia and South Africa are connected by history and by heart: both nations
rose from colonial struggle to chart their own destinies; both stood firm for the
principles of non-alignment, solidarity, and the voice of the developing world; and
both see in each other, a true partner in the continuing quest for equality and
hope.
10. Mr President, your leadership reminds us that universities are not ivory towers, but
beacons that light the path of humanity. Your lifelong journey, from trade unionist
to a statesman, from mediator to global reformer - mirrors our own mission: to
educate, to empower, and to build peace through reason, compassion, and truth.