The 29th convocation ceremony of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) was held on Saturday, July 8, 2017, where the University graduated its largest batch to date. The ceremony represented a reunion of the entire University, with 1082 graduating students, parents, staff and faculty from each school gathering to commemorate the achievement of the class of 2017.
A beautiful day greeted over 3,000 guests and faculty members to celebrate the fresh graduates. The ceremony commenced with the entrance of the academic procession at the convocation venue. The procession included students and faculty from all four schools; Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences (MGSHSS), Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) and Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL). The management honoured its students who performed meritoriously with awards and medals.
Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Vice Chancellor, LUMS welcomed parents, students, the management committee members, trustees and the keynote speaker, Mr. Arif Naqvi at the convocation ceremony. In his welcome address, he congratulated the graduating class and said that these graduates are poised to lead this great country to join the ranks of developed nations of the world. “This is the moment to reaffirm your faith in the values you have imbibed at LUMS. It is time to lead, serve and bring hope to this beautiful country that has given you everything.” Appreciating the rigorous path to graduation from LUMS, he said, “I speak with certitude because with merit the only criteria, and funds not being a barrier to entry, we at LUMS select the best; and that is where this journey starts - an intense and exhilarating experience, where students have the freedom to explore their interests, to take the path less travelled, to push boundaries to understand themselves and the world they are surrounded by.”
The keynote speaker at the ceremony was renowned entrepreneur, Mr. Arif Naqvi, founder of the Abraaj Group, one of the leading private equity firms in the world. Delivering the commencement keynote address, Mr. Arif Naqvi congratulated the class of 2017 on graduating from one of the region’s finest academic institutions.
He encouraged the cohort to pursue their leadership goals, while embodying empathy and authenticity. “In my professional life, I have had the privilege of working with and backing extraordinary people. The nature of the business I lead demands me to always be on the hunt for great talent, great businesses and great leaders. All of us at some point have that desire to be a leader in a field that truly matters to us. And the two things I encourage you to foster as future leaders is resilience and service to others in a manner that is authentic to you as an individual and professional. If you are truly going to be a leader, think of how you connect whatever it is you do in life, to making the environment around you a better and a more inclusive place. It will bring you success and it will bring you happiness.”
At the end of the ceremony over 1000 classmates drifted out of the event venue, to join their parents and friends for refreshments while reflecting upon their rite of passage. The cameras flashed as the graduates gathered for the group photo, followed by loud cheers and greeting for the latest graduates of the Lahore University of Management Sciences.
