Speech by Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan | Aga Khan University Convocation 2026

Aga Khan's Convocation Address

• 🎯 On January 17, 2026, Mawlana Hazar Imam (His Highness the Aga Khan) delivered a video message to graduates of Aga Khan University (AKU).
• 🌍 The address congratulated graduates from Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UK, and East Africa, marking a significant milestone in their lives.
• 👏 He also expressed happiness regarding Princess Zahra Aga Khan's installation as Pro-Chancellor, acknowledging her dedicated service.

Enduring Legacy of Education

• 💡 The Ismaili Imamat has a thousand-year tradition of prioritizing education, from 10th-century Al-Azhar to modern institutions like Aligarh Muslim University and UCA.
• 🌱 Education forms the foundation of all AKDN's work, serving as a powerful catalyst for positive social change.
• 🚀 Educating an individual creates a ripple effect, benefiting not just the person but also their family and the wider society.

AKU's Impact and Support

• ✅ For over 40 years, AKU's teachers and students have demonstrated that knowledge is key to establishing peaceful and developed societies.
• 🤝 AKU's success is attributed to the generosity of donors, the efforts of volunteers and partners, and the patronage of various governments.

Navigating Modern Frontiers

• 🌐 Graduates are entering an era rich with unprecedented information and powerful tools, presenting vast opportunities.
• 🔬 Modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Gene Editing, and Climate Science offer numerous ways to improve the world.
• 🔑 This era places a great responsibility on graduates to utilize their knowledge and technology for the betterment of human life.

Future Vision for AKU and Graduates

• 📈 AKU is in an exciting phase, advancing through research, modern technology, and virtual learning.
• 🌍 The university reiterates its commitment to environmental protection and pluralism as essential for progress.
• 🙏 The Aga Khan offered a special prayer for graduates to use their knowledge to solve societal problems and uphold AKU's great tradition.