‘I AM BOTH HUMBLED AND INSPIRED’, SAYS DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

UPON RECEIPT OF AWARD AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

 

Following is the text of remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro upon accepting the Distinguished Leadership Award from the African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University, on 17 April:

Thank you Ambassador Stith.  I am deeply moved by this recognition, and touched by your kind words of introduction.  Thank you Mr. President.

Like most Africans of my generation, I grew up deeply invested in the freedom movements in South Africa and Mozambique.  I identified with the struggles of my fellow Africans and admired great sons and daughters of Africa: Samora Machel, Josina Machel, Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Joaquim Chissano, and many others.  I was privileged to associate with them as they led their countrymen and women to liberation.

It is difficult to describe my feelings at being placed in the company of these two legendary Africans, Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Joaquim Chissano.  I am both humbled and inspired.  I am gratified that your recognition stems, in part, from my service to the Government and people of Tanzania.  At the same time, I know this award expresses your high expectations of me as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

This honour resonates in other respects as well. I began my professional career teaching law at the University of Dar es Salaam.  As an academic, I am immensely gratified for this recognition by my peers.

Your award comes not just from any university, but from one of America’s great institutes of higher education.  Actually, with students from some 140 countries, Boston University is perhaps better described as a global centre of learning -- a true united nations of academia.

This University is remarkable in many other respects as well.  You put the title “Dr.” in front of the name of Martin Luther King, and you have long been a force for female empowerment, as well, a subject very dear to my heart.  Boston University opened its doors to women when most others in this country were closed, and broke new ground in being first to award them doctorates.

But I am moved most by your long standing ties to Africa, a fact reflected by today’s ceremonies.  This University houses one of the oldest African studies programmes in this nation.  Its reputation as a centre of teaching and research on Africa is second to none.  In recent years, the African Presidential Archives and Research Center has only reinforced this reputation.

I take great pride in the fact that my alma mater and this University are working together through the American-African Universities Collaborative.  In that sense, you are truly my colleagues.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the faith you have place in me today.  I promise to spare no effort to live up to it.

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For information media • not an official record