The number of chromosomes each parent contributes during fertilization is 23. As a class that has had two parent institutions—Ashesi University and ETH Zurich—it is an honour to have inherited our social and academic DNA from both institutions.

I stand on all existing protocols, and I say good morning to you all once again. I am proud to stand before you today as a member of Ashesi University’s pioneer class of graduate students—the Graduate Class of 2024. It is timely that the 24 of us in this pioneering class are here, 20 years after Ashesi’s pioneering undergraduates, the Class of 2005, also took to this stage. Permit me to say, things were just a little bit different.

Ashesi operated out of two small rented buildings in Accra; the entire audience for that ceremony was about two-thirds the size of today’s graduating classes. And in many ways, the Class of 2005 was stepping out into the world with much more uncertainty about whether the Ashesi education would actually translate into the world of work the way it promised.

But on January 12, 2022, when Dr. Elegba, Dr. Mertens, and Max Grau welcomed us to our hostel, we had arrived at a university that had seen the impact of Ashesi’s Class of 2005, and the seventeen classes that had followed them. We were pioneers, but in many ways, we were also beneficiaries. The Mechatronic Engineering program we had been accepted into had the benefit of an incredible Ghanaian university in Ashesi, and the decades of engineering teaching experience of Switzerland’s ETH Zurich. We had the benefit of scholarships, career connections, and support from strong organisations. We had access to labs and resources that the Class of 2005 could have only dreamed of. So we arrived as pioneers—but with far more opportunity than our predecessors.

And so, to my fellow graduate students and my colleague undergraduate students: we get to dream bigger. How will our work, our lives, and our experiences benefit the students who will walk into Ashesi seventeen more classes from now?

Our time at Ashesi gave us a glimpse of how we could grow professionally and personally, while also growing in service to others. From helping Admissions with recruitment drives to helping new graduate students settle in, this class has continuously shown an immense sense of community. Esi and Miki turned their room into an extension of the classroom, staying up long hours to teach whoever walked through their door. From our Friday nights at Dufie eating kenkey together—because, as Ernest would always say, “Person wey dey alive wey dey chop”—we learnt and embraced our differences and found joy in learning from each other. That balance kept us going, even when, in Asante’s words, “you don’t get it.”

We got to be inspired by incredible faculty. We crossed bridges we thought were impossible. We learnt the importance of teamwork. But most importantly, we learnt to embrace the uniqueness of our differences. In a world that is filled with many voices and opinions, we learnt to do signal processing—not just on our computers, but most importantly in our minds. To become better at understanding which voices matter, and which ones do not.

In our time at Ashesi, many seeds have been sown in us, and each has the potential to grow into a great tree—whose seeds grow into greater trees. Every day, by our actions and decisions, we choose to nurture or stunt the growth of these seeds. In 17 or 20 years, when taking stock, will we have inspired growth and development? Will our actions have lifted people above the poverty line, improved education access, or helped industrialise this continent we call home? It is important that we demonstrate to the world what ethical work, leadership, and followership look like through our daily routine. As we leave campus today, let us ask ourselves what the Ashesi pillars mean to us, and what success would mean for us in the years to come.

To our families, partners, friends, and mentors who have journeyed patiently with us during this program—we cannot thank you enough. Our presence here today is as much for you as it is for us.

Prof. Angela, we cannot thank you enough. You were many things to us: an inspiration, a mother, a friend, and an employer.

Dean Abdul and the team at the Student Affairs Office—thank you for the advice and support in ensuring social and academic balance.

Prof. Amanquah, maybe one day we will know how you juggle all your roles and keep all this running the way you do.

To the broader Ashesi community—our faculty—thank you for the knowledge you have imparted, the coordination, and for always being there for us.

To Mariette, Edo, Andrea, Isabel, and Antoinette—we recognize and deeply appreciate your dedication to making this program a success for us. Thank you.

To the Mechatronic Engineering Graduate Class of 2024! We could all learn a lesson or two from Bernard and Oluwamurewa about friendship and brotherhood, learn to make the most of every moment like Paulo, be quiet leaders like Joan, Abigail, and Evans. Let us continue to be true to ourselves while we keep memories of Solomon’s laughter, Papa T and Dr. Armah’s anecdotes, and life on a campus that became home. Let us keep the flame of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship burning. Let us go forth and be the change we want to see in the world.

And knowing all of us, there is no limit to where we can get to. So whether you are doing computational neuroscience, making palm paste, cementing your place at Holcim, leading projects, or doing research—always remember that whether you think you can or you cannot, you are right.

If you need any inspiration, look no further than this stage. Look at the work of Madam Reeta Roy and her team at the Mastercard Foundation in promoting equitable access to tertiary education around the world. Look at the work our very own Dr. Patrick Awuah is doing with a team that has come a long way from humble beginnings. Look at Ashesi’s Class of 2005 and all who came after them. We are entreated to also move from this Ashesi—and also be the Ashesi of many great things.

Our hope is that someday the cohorts and classes after us will look to us and also believe that they can do amazing things. Ashesi has given us everything we need—and more—to make any dream a reality.

And in the spirit of Ashesi, let me end by quoting Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

“Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute—
What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated—
Begin it, and the work will be completed!”

Thank you. Asante. Danke. Merci. Me da mo ase.
May God bless us all.