On Friday, November 27,1959, His Imperial
Majesty attended the Commencement
Exercises
at the College of Engineering in Addis
Ababa.
Below is His Imperial Majesty's speech
in reply
to H.E.Lidj Endalkatchew Makonnen, Vice-
Minister of Education :
"It is a source of much pleasure
for Us to be here
today when you, the graduating students
who have
successfully completed your courses at
the College of
Engineering, will receive from Our hands
the diplomas
which testify to the achievements of
your years of study
at this institution.
This is a memorably happy day both for
you gradua-
tes and for Us, for each graduation
ceremony at one of
the numerous institutions of higher
learning which have
been established throughout Our Empire
at Our command
represents another step forward along
the path of
progress for Our beloved country which
it has been Our
mission and destiny to mark out for her.
In the education
of her youth and the training in modern
knowledge of
the younger generation lies the hope of
Ethiopia and the
key to her future. Of those to whom much
has been given
will much de demanded. And you will one
day be
required to render an accounting of that
which has been
trusted to you.
The challenge which lies before you
today is great.
If you are successful in this struggle,
you will reflect
credit upon yourself and upon your
country. Many
have reached enviable success in
engineering without the
benefit of academic training. In the
early days, technical
schools and universities with special
courses did not
exist, and young men secured their
training by years of
apprenticeship or the techniques of its
solution. How
much more fortunate are you today, how
much greater
your chances of success in your chosen
profession, and
how much more you owe to those who have
made your
education and training possible.
This institution and its graduates
promise much for
the future development of Our country.
We are
assiduous in Our efforts continuously to
improve the
scope and extent of the training which
students receive
here, to expand the facilities which are
at their disposal
and build more schools to meet the
increasing demand
for education.
Before We present your diplomas to you,
We would
add one word of advice and counsel. The
achievement
which you today realize is praiseworthy,
and you merit,
and have, Our congratulations. But do
not let your ac-
complishment blind you to its true
value. Do not, in
contemplating the past, overlook the
limitations which
still hamper you. Do not let possession
of this diploma
beguile you into the belief superior
beings, that the mark
of education sets you apart from your
less fortunate
fellowmen, that you have outgrown and
can dispense
with the traditions and customs of your country.
There is still much to learn; knowledge
is inexhausti-
ble, much arduous and discouraging toil lies ahead of
you. Cultivate the mental attitude of
humility and
perseverence which will see you safely
through the
period of toil and labour which awaits
you. Undertake
no service inconsistent with the public
welfare, but
strive with unrelenting effort to
improve the conditions
of life of Our people, for thus you will realize Our, and
We trust, your fondest hope for the
advancement of Our
beloved country.
If you do these things, you will keep
faith with
your country, your countrymen and with Us.
We would extend Our thanks to all who
have
contributed to
making this day possible. The present
and past deans
and faculty of the college and all those
who have laboured so diligently in the
cause of the
education of the students in attendance
here, to you are
thanks due. The teaching profession is a
noble one,
and we can all learn much and profit
from the example
set by their devoted and unselfish
efforts.
We are pleased with the words expressed
by the
Vice-Minister of Education. We are happy
to see that
Our aim for the welfare of Our people is
already taking shape."
Speeches delivered by His
Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions -
page 180 -
