Morgan State University has welcomed International Business Executive and University Chancellor Sir Samuel Esson Jonah as the keynote speaker for the 147th Spring Commencement for undergraduates Saturday, May 18.
Morgan President David Wilson said he chose Jonah as this year’s commencement speaker because Jonah has decades of experience, success and accolades that will strengthen his message to encourage and motivate new graduates. He is set to deliver his remarks to Morgan’s graduates, faculty, administrators and guests at the Hughes Memorial Stadium 10:00 a.m. Saturday.
Jonah is ranked among the world’s most influential business people and the Ghana Mine Workers Union has recognized his contributions to developing the country’s mining industry. He is also the CEO of Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited and and is chairman of Equinox Limited in Australia and Canada, Vodafone in the U.K., Moto Gold Mines Australia and Canada, Bayport Financial Services in Mauritius, and Uramin in the U.K. and Canada.
“Sir Samuel Jonah is one of the world’s most respected and acclaimed leaders, a titan of business whose legacy resonates across continents and we’re honored to have him address our spring graduates,” said Wilson. “The selection of the graduation speaker should not be one to invoke controversy. I selected the commencement speaker so he can use this platform to inspire the students who are about to walk across the stage, to go out there and make the world a better place.”
CNN and Time Magazine both lauded Jonah as one of the world’s “Top 25 Most Influential Businesspeople” in 2004. Jonah also received an honorary knighthood as Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) from Queen Elizabeth II in addition to five lifetime achievement awards, the most recent of which was the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Jonah holds several honorary doctoral degrees for humanities and sciences from African and U.K. institutions. Finally, Jonah also received Ghana’s highest national award, the Companion of the Order of the Star, in 2006.
According to Wilson, the world will soon shift its focus toward Africa and Jonah’s message will remind the graduates to connect their skills and education to the continent.
“I am thinking about the timeliness of the message. Our students are coming into a space where there’s this attempt to erase Black history from K through 12 and say to all public colleges [in] the United states, ‘you can’t even teach about Black people,’” said Wilson. “In my view, [the message] is timely.”
Wilson is the only person at Morgan who chooses the commencement speaker but accepts recommendations from the school’s faculty and students. He also said that while he is not oblivious to what’s happening in the world, he does not anticipate a protest at commencement.
“You cannot threaten people [but they] cannot stand in the way of the university’s ability to carry out daily activities,” said Wilson.
According to Wilson, security measures remain the same as every other year and that while freedom of expression is acceptable, he does not permit anyone to stand in the way of the university’s planned activities.
Morgan hosted its Graduate School Spring Commencement on Thursday morning without interruption and Wilson said he anticipates a happy graduation for Morgan’s new graduates, their family and guests.
“The families and graduates are coming to have a ceremony and not to experience protest,” said Wilson. “I hope that’s the mindset of the community.”
