Don’t Despise Jobs, Muni University Graduates Urged

ARUA. Muni University graduates have been urged not to despise jobs after successfully attaining their qualifications.

The appeal was made during the University’s seventh graduation ceremony held at the main campus in Arua city on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

A total of 320 students graduated from different programs including certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate.

But during the function, Henry Luke Orombi, the Muni University Chancellor, urged the graduands not to despise any job after leaving the gates of the university.

“There are plenty of opportunities out there, do not despise any job. Money is money no matter how you get them, but if they are positively got, then you are building yourself a character. Start humble and God will lift you up. I started as a Grade II primary school teacher, I worked hard, I was persistent in pursuing my goals, when you see a former Archbishop of Uganda, don’t look at him now, look at him from the beginning,” Orombi advised.

“So even in your beginning, humble as it is, there is a greater future, keep pressing on. Do not fall for the get-rich-quick schemes, those will destroy you. Success is progressive, do the right thing at all times. Congratulations to all of you, may the Lord watch over you, may His face shine upon you, may His goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life,” Orombi prayed for the graduands shortly before conferring the different degrees upon them.

His remarks followed a revelation made by Eng. Joel Aita, the Muni University Council Chairperson, said that he came across one of the graduands, Fredrick Abedigamba, a student of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, who washed cars to raise money for his upkeep at the university in the last four years he was studying.

“Faced with the hard financial challenges of living in the university, Fredrick approached a local washing bay in Arua city and requested for a job so that he can be able to pay his living expenditure in the university and Fredrick worked there for all the four years and he was able to eat and he was able to live until today when we see him graduating. Fredrick, we give you a big hand clap and may you be successful in your endeavors,” Aita said.

He added that: “I believe many of our students drop out of school because of similar challenges Fredrick has faced. I believe this is an example to many of our current students or many of our students who will be coming that you are not alone, these challenges everyone is facing, if you can buy an example from what Fredrick has done, you will be successful.”

Mario Obiga Kania, the State Minister of Urban Development also recognized Fredrick and equally urged all the graduands to emulate his exemplary act.

“Why I have called Fredrick is to tell you graduates that there is no job, like the Archbishop has said, that you should despise. There is no job. A job is what you do which gives you some income, some money – finished! That is a job, forget these gowns, if they can’t make you money, that is not a job,” Kania emphasized.

He said Arua is now a city and soon they will need people to collect waste.

“If you can collect that waste and you get money, that is a job. Yes, he did, absolutely Fredrick washed cars and he graduated. If you want to be MP for Terego, there is only one position and Obiga Kania is still there, so that can not be a job for you. If you want to be a Minister of Urban Development, so far there is one, and I have no reason to leave that job. This is a reality,” Kania said, attracting a loud applause from the congregation.

Ronald Toko, a graduate of Postgraduate Diploma in Education, welcomed the advice and said the 21^st century graduates are usually trained with multi-sectoral skills which enable them to fit anywhere not necessarily in offices.

“In the current world, finishing a course and graduating like this is just one thing but the real journey begins after graduation because it is very difficult to get jobs these days. So, in order to survive looking for the right job, you don’t have to wait. If there is any single opportunity, you need to take advantage of it,” Toko said.

In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Simon Anguma Katrini, the Muni University Vice Chancellor, thanked the government of Uganda for the continued support to Muni University.

He said now that the graduands have successfully completed this level, let them make it a stepping stone for entry into yet another opening.

“Another opening that should lead you to a higher level. The dictates of this century direct us to embrace life-long-learning, therefore, go for further studies,” Anguma asserted.

Meanwhile in a speech read by Dr. Joyce Moriku, the State Minister of Primary Education, Janet Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports, said the seventh Muni University graduation marks and culminates into the years of dedication and hard work.

“It is a true privilege to witness the fruits of your labour. I therefore, congratulate all the graduands, the parents and all the stakeholders for the milestones that we are celebrating today. I take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to the University Council, the Senate and the entire management as well as the entire staff and students’ community of Muni University for the visible output in all your areas of mandate,” Janet said.

She observed that the Ministry of Education and Sports is particularly impressed by the remarkable progress Muni University has made since its inception, especially the strides made in potentially promising research outcomes which is a testimony of the university’s commitment to focus on quality and excellency.

The First Lady said it is in recognition of this progress that the Ministry of Education and Sports has taken deliberate steps to support Muni University’s efforts.

Janet said she is aware that there are several planned but unfunded projects such as the renovation of Erepi campus and the construction of new infrastructure for the medical school and agricultural workshop, promising that the ministry of Education and Sports will do all it can to support the endeavors in a bid to increase access to higher education in the West Nile sub-region.