The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Tunis has been conferred with an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the Cuttington University, Bong County Liberia, in recognition of his contributions to the ECOWAS Sub-region.
Mr. Tunis bagged the honorary doctorate degree on Saturday during the University’s 14th commencement convocation of its School of Graduate and Professional Studies.
It was conferred on him by his Alma Mater for his contributions to the ECOWAS sub-region as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr. Tunis told Journalists that he was elated and would continue to do more to advance the cause of West Africa and its citizens.
He said; ”I will use my position as the Speaker of the Parliament to bring ECOWAS closer to the people and the Community Parliament.
“I feel very happy, apart from being the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, this is also my Alma Mater.”
“I graduated from Cuttington in 1989 and today I have been given this honour and I thank the Almighty Allah for his blessings.”
“When I took over as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2020, I said that I will bring the ECOWAS Parliament to the people… And with this honour today, I will continue to ensure that ECOWAS reflects indeed that of the people’s parliament, that of the Community Parliament,” Tunis said.
Mr. Tunis urged the grandaunts to see themselves as a tool for an integrated Africa, saying that the youths are the future of Africa’s development.
He also commended their resilience for pushing through their academic year amidst the unique situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As you graduate today, see yourselves as a realisation of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s call for a more integrated Africa that is focused on attaining inclusive and sustainable development.”
“The continent’s AU Agenda 2063 remains a shared aspiration for transforming our continent into a group of prosperous, equitable, and integrated nations.”
“In your sundry contribution towards the collective future of the Great Republic of Liberia, your contributions are critical towards this shared continental aspiration especially in the post-COVID era,” Mr. Tunis stated.
He said; “The new Africa will be led by young, innovative, and enterprising persons like you.
”You have the obligation to control the new economic scramble for Africa, by ensuring that you are active participants in the global economy and can therefore participate as equal partners.
“COVID-19 may have slowed down economies and altered lives and livelihoods but your graduation today is new cause for optimism that we will prevail over the worst and triumph with the best.
“An African renaissance is possible with young and agile minds like yours and we therefore must celebrate you today as an addition to that critical mass that will transform the future of our continent.”
President of the University, Dr. Herman Browne said the institution was honoring Mr. Tunis in recognition of his contributions to ECOWAS as Speaker of the Parliament.
Dr. Brown however urged the speaker to continue in his good works and push towards the development and integration of the sub-region.
He commended Tunis for his contributions to global, humanitarian and national movements which has further earned him several recognitions and awards.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament delegation, Mr. Bertin Some, congratulated the Speaker on the honorary degree conferred on him.
Mr. Some who is the Direction of Parliamentary Affairs and Research, said it was a well-deserved recognition as the Speaker has shown himself worthy of t through all he has done heading the affairs of the Parliament.
“This is a unique occasion and a wonderful occasion that we have today.
“We want to commend his efforts because it is the acknowledgement of all his efforts that made him get this recognition and the ECOWAS parliament is very proud of that,” he stated.
Mr. Some admonished Mr. Tunis to continue to do more in his tenure as Speaker of the Community Parliament for the benefit of the region and its citizens.
Mercy Chukwudibere
