Joyce Banda receives Honorary PhD in United States of America

May 17, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 106 Comments

Malawi’s former President Joyce Banda was among three recipients of honorary PhD degrees at Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America on, Friday, May 15, 2015.

Banda received her honourary PhD at Wheelook College
Banda received her honourary PhD at Wheelook College
Joyce Banda: Every woman, every child is me
Joyce Banda: Every woman, every child is me

Wheelock College held its tradition of two separate commencement programs—a morning ceremony for undergraduates and an afternoon ceremony for graduate students.Other honorary PhD recipients at the Undergraduate Ceremony were Lawrence O’Donnell and Dr. Tiziana Filippini.

The three recipients were recognized because they embodied the spirit of the undergraduate and graduate Commencement theme “Advancing Social Justice and Education around the World.”

Banda was Keynote Speaker at Undergraduate Commencement Speaker ceremony while MSNBC Host and education activist O’ Donnell served as Commencement Speaker.

In her speech, Banda told the graduates that she was an African woman, a mother, a grandmother, but also a leader.

“I’ve taken many roles—businesswoman, politician, Head of State, Member of Parliament and cabinet minister. I’ve been Foreign Minister, Vice President and President. Through all these roles, I have had the opportunity to be an agent for change. I want you to know that I didn’t do it in a day. It’s been a journey of 40 years,” she said.

She advised the young graduates that as they graduate, it was a celebration of years of hard work. Banda told her story of growing up in a small village in Malawi.

JB said her childhood best friend who, though “brighter than me,” was unable to raise the enough money to continue in primary school and was forced to drop out.

“The friend married at age 15 and had a child; that first child recently died of AIDS,” she said adding. She was able to attend the best schools and eventually rose to become President of Malawi.

“That is how unfair the world is. I got angry then; I used that anger throughout my life to send as many girls to school so they don’t end up like my best friend,” she said, adding that she believedthe future depends on empowering women, both in the household and at work.

Banda during the graduation
Banda during the graduation

She commended the graduates for choosing Wheelock, whose mission is to improve the lives of children and families.

“Choose to be extraordinary. Choose to lead an extraordinary life. It is a choice. Let me assure you that most of those plans will fail. But it’s not the failure that’s important, but the choice you make,” said Malawi’s former President.

On Thursday, May 14, Banda attended the ‘Every Woman Every Child’ (EWEC) Senior Leaders Retreatto transition the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health for the Post-2015 Era’in New York. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited Banda alongside other 50 global leaders in maternal health.

The (EWEC) movement has galvanized action catalyzing unprecedented progress in reducing maternal and child mortality worldwide. EWEC has helped to strengthen political commitment at the highest-levels, mobilize resources, focus attention, consolidate efforts and bring people together to build a global movement.

In his remarks, the UN Secretary-General Ki-moon observed that the leaders “were a diverse group, but with one common bond”.

“We all believe in a world where every woman, child and young person can not only survive, but thrive.  We have a unified vision to end all preventable maternal, newborn, child and adolescent deaths.  We have a passion to improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents within a generation,” he said.

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106 replies on “Joyce Banda receives Honorary PhD in United States of America”

  2. congratulations Kusyeto. amidst turmoil and cruel waters, women must strive to perform above average. as we give birth, facilitating life to our young, indeed we must not die in the process but be moulded to come out even stronger. for gold to be what it is, it has to go through intense heat coming out shining so bright that one wonders how God could hide such a bright , expensive stone under the earth. …..but those who go underneath the earth FIND IT. yes indeed , it is not how we fall or how many times we fall but how we wake up and pick up the pieces to rebuild our LIFE – our FILE ……always learning from the previous ‘maternity’ experience.
    stay strong

  3. you make me to feel that, as a woman l will manage to do better in my life as men can do

  5. Mama we are here watching and thanking GOd for His grace upon you. All the best mama and congrats

  7. Its good that they have finally decided to keep her in their country since they love her so much!

    Apitirize kumupatsa ma doctorate opusa awowo, no company in Malawi can employ somebody based on those useless papers!

  8. Chizete chachikazi chiuona ngati chikhala ejukwetedi chitalandira yapawindoyi. Sure, her fellow fools will be lcalling her Dr. Dr. Joyce Jezebel Husband snatcher Abiti Ntila kachali Banda! KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKkk

  10. Azungu kusowa chochita. Nthawi yomwe amalamulira amangogawa ng’ombe ndiye Ph.D ikuchokera pati ?

  11. The highest academic qualification Joisi Banda has is GCE (Cambridge) when she sat for the Cambridge exams ca. 1969, at Providence Secondary School in Mulanje. This is not to demean her at all; just a fact. In fact I would like to congratulate her.
    And so, it is quite an achievement to have two honoraries now.
    But I hope she knows what they really mean: not to abuse the title “Dr.” , by boasting to Malawians. Tinachenjera masiku ano (The educated ones know better the value of such awards.) The two honoraries do not actually license her to use the title “Dr.” at all. She should just lock up the pieces of paper! They are good for nothing: she can’t get a job based on them. Meaningless on a resume, or on a CV, as she would day.
    Knowing her though, she may think now she can be called Dr. Dr. Joisi Banda; (double “Dr.”) just because she has two honoraries! Poor Joisi! Most Malawians are not impressed, because she did not study mwausaveji (like crazy) for it!

    1. Where were you when Bingu got honorary professorship and everyone including our state radio stations started immediately calling him Prof. Bingu Muthalika. What about Muluzi a JCE fellow?

  13. Can the knowledge of mathematics help a gambler
    to win. Then he added a ton of third-and-mediums and third-and-longs.
    Learn to be aware of your intuition, and you will get better over time.

  14. This is just a lie.During that time and until now,one needs to be selected.Nothing else!!! Malawi has a very tough system of education. Most people fear it even there in the land of Obama. Believe me or not!!! I still respect the system as it is not a matter of carry on education.Those colleges over there are the Medic over here.We have been over there. Every body graduates over there. There are no repeaters,

  17. Hahahahahah, Kodi timati honorary PhD ngati? Kufuna eti? Timati honorary doctorate. Pali ma doctorate ena si ma PhD ayi where there is no Philosophy. Bulutu Joyce mtima mbee. Angalembe Thesis ameneyo. Hejeheheheheheheh! Ma bulutu a pa Domasi dooms!

  18. Kodi achikulire honarary imakhala ndi zifukwa zake zoyenera kani JB apatsidwa.Anthu amalandira ulemu ndi p8,p7,etc amalowa mkalasi? nsanje basi.

  20. anachitadi zazikulu amayiwa zomwe a Malawi anzawo sitidazidziwebe, mpake kumalandila maulemu otero kunja. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! za ziii! kusangalatsa obwera. bola zisadztikudze kumudzi kuno pobweza ngongolezo.

  21. Awa ndi ana akazi, JB is powerful. this woman is an insipiration. jelasi down this woman works hard and she deserves it.

  22. please mama do the right thing. dont come here in Malawi. anthuwa salibwino we dont want them to create an accident for you. we love u. simantha but use wisdom. amalawife kusamva the thugs are here to finish us all. please mama stay there.

  23. And for the brutes Boston is the state with highest ranked universities,you talk of Havard (number one the whole world),massachussets etc,you cant compare them with the colleges achina bingu amatengelako ma PhD opanga download pa internet ku india,toma college toti pano tinatha kale kale kkkk congrats mama JB

  24. Mr chikopa be learned, George W Bush is ranked the worst president America has ever had due to the way he rigged elections and the Iragi war which accorded him a reputation of war lordship for committing crimes against humanity of which he is supposed to be tried in Hague (Netherlands)together with his British counterpart (Blair)according to the recommendations by the commission of inquiry which was set up by the UN in order to establish the legality of the was against Iraqi but the international criminals court is not warranting his arrest just because he was once a leader of the most powerful country in the world. This makes many to believe that the ICC is a court for punishing the weak and people without names especially those from African continent. Now for someone to say Bush needed recognition of any kind is to prove to the public that such a person knows nothing apart from digging rats

  27. JB is a global citizen. Known and appreciated world wide but not in a small African country. Something wrong with citizens of this small poorest African country.

  28. One receives an honorary doctorate and NOT an honorary PhD, kodi mudzaphunzira liti a Malawi? Umbuli basi!!!!

  31. Joseph Banda #49: WHY ARE YOU BOTHERED? WHICH HOME SHOULD SHE RETURN TO YOUR HOME? IT IS NOT CERTIFICATES WHICH REALLY MATTER. IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR BRAINS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN COLLEGE TODAY BECAUSE OF JB. GO TO CHANCO, MZUNI, KCN , POLY ETC AND FIND OUT HOW MANY GIRLS/YOUNG WOMEN ARE BEING ARE ON JB FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?

  35. Umbuli ndi chisoni komanso matenda oophya! Umbuli m’dziko lathu Wafika posauzana! Zoona tikuchemelera maHonarary accolades Okuti iwowo eniake alibe nawo ntchito? By the way, is this an honorary PhD, or an honorary doctorate? Tell me if she can write PhD after her name…. I don’t think we will develop with this mentality of praising mediocrity and attaching politics to every event. If you thought education is difficult and expensive, this is the flip side.

  39. Those of you in the know. Which best schools did Mai Banda go to? Just dont want to miss out on the background of such an accomplished Malawian.

  41. Ma pHD ongopatsidwawa ndi omwe mukumativuta nawo ngati munalowera mu kalasi. Dr. Kamuzu Banda anowa mkalasi kwao kwa a zungu nkumupatsa pHD. Za ziiiiii zopnada ndi mchere omwe.

  46. Mzungu amakonda zitsiru. Hey hey they want us to look stupid. Why not give PHD to Obama or George Bush? Those are smart guys they do not accept useless titles. Ndangodutsamo.

  47. Am not a PP youth bt as a gal child am rily impressed with her excellency achievements and she rily inspires me…Dr Joyce Banda u r my role model and congratulations madam!

  50. We have tried to tell the International Community not to acknowledge JB’s Excellence….We have failed miserably….here comes another award!

  51. These achievements are putting JB beyond reach!…I must quickly devise another lie!

  52. People like Nankhumwa will be disappointed. CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER MADAM. BUT i wonder if the people who bestow you these accolades are aware that cashgate occurred under your watch?

  55. Congratulations are in order here!….whether we like it or not…..JB….Respect!

  56. What is the meaning of such a Phd given to a person who has not even been in a classroom in her life? Only the ignorant and the overzealous can celebrate this mediocrity.

  57. Dr Joyce Banda, I am beginning not to understand you. Come home and tell those stories the Youth of Malawi that require more of your advice. May I remind you that in life one gets these certificates one at a time:

    1. One Primary school leaving certificate
    2 One Junior Certificate
    3. One Malawi School certificate or any one O levels certificate
    4. One A levels certificate (if necessary)
    5. One 1st Degree
    6. One Masters Degree
    7. One PHD.

    The rest of the time spend on the ground. What you are doing is shaming all of us. Please, Please, Please COME BACK HOME

  60. Let us leave politics aside, this our own lady she is so privileged i mean we can see that,the problem in Malawi we give our honorary when somebody is dead of which is not fair.Let them see our appreciation.She got that potentials as second lady in African countries.See my name.

  61. Let me take an opportunity to congratulate our mother Malawi, Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda. You make us proud ma’am. We miss you. You are born a leader and no one can take that away from you. Hugs

  62. That what happens when one still dwells in the secret place of the most high.amayi omweo kuti wawa wawa.JB we miss you so much.ndinu wathu wathu masten.

  63. Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda the globe icon. We are proud of you ma’am. Odi Ukooooooooooo

  64. This woman never sees to amuse me. Malawi lost a powerful woman. Congrats Madam President were proud of you

  66. Love her or hate her but you cannot compare JB with Kaliati, Seodi etc. there useless women. JB more fire

  68. Much much proud of u mama in style. Come in malawi 2018 for ur vote not now bcoz anjiru akukunolerani mano. Ndiye angatidulire tsogolo la malawi wathu wabwino. Big up!

  69. No matter how much you try to compare Prof APM with JB – the two are distance apart. Prof APM earned his title right there in the USA. He was professor right there in the USA. He taught the whites right there in the US. APM doesnt need these accolades. These are meant for activists like JB.

  70. Western countries at it again. Why do you want to fool African leaders with cheap PhDs. Let people go to school to achieve these higher qualifications so that they can compete at international level. I wouldn’t clap my swollen hands for the Mzungu philosophy who still want to continue colonizing this nation through the backdoors

  76. Realy its true she deserve to be hourned coz she work for the nation beside politics .Politics is now ruined into it couz she played it dirty too.

  77. Kodi highest academic qualification ya JB yoti anakhoza ndi chani? Nanga adzingoyendera ma PhD a honorary basi?

  78. Joyce Banda iis a reflection of Malawi and most Malawians are able to relate to her. I think Saulos Chilima is such kind of Malawian.

  79. thank God atlst the other side of the world is recognising u as a potential woman in the world. kuno kuli prime minister Yopanda school, sing’anga wa big man

  81. The DPP Savages will come out with smoking guns to try and demean and belittle this Gigantic Achievement……Let the Whole World know that this Demonic savages will stop at nothing to sway public opinion in their favor using very dark and evil tricks!….Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda is in a class of her own….these thugs in blue will remain what they are…..THUGS,

  82. siyani ndale Mai.
    continue good work – u well suited. I Love Joyce without her political attire.

  84. Hey, what did you just say? Did you say “honorary”? Poor joyisi kkkkkkkkk what a shame! Typical of African leaders. And as I expected, PP-bootlickers are busy cerebrating congratulating joyisi for receiving that shameful thing. Have you ever asked yourself why these honorary degrees are not given to world leaders like Obama, Cameron, Xi Jinping, Putin, etc? Oh…poor Malawi don’t make me write what I don’t have to.

  85. I think God has something to do with Joice Banda kungoti this wos more haters! Really this woman deserve a credit! Zimandidabwitsa kuti why do The current govt got minister of Gender after all they have done JB and every woman who always try to rise in life

  87. Mathanyula, Seod ndi Nankhumwa mutsekula m’mimba with your hatred for our beloved mama. Congrats mama JB. We love you.

  90. When Jesus say yes nobody can say nobody can say no… His time is the best. The time has come that Dr. Joyce Banda should be on the map representing Malawians and being the role model to many women even men. Girls you need to learn from our former president, it’s a humbling background but profound and edifying.

  92. Please keep your Credentials Safely under lock and Key least Kondwani steals them…he steals such you know….like the stolen MSCE certificate he uses…it belongs to the deceased!….Eish

  93. OH MY GOD…ANOTHER ACCOLADE…..WAIT AND SEE NOW HOW PETER MUTHARIKA WILL UNLEASH HIS MAD DOG TO HOUND THIS TREND SETTER

  94. HAHAHAHA……CATCH HER IF YOU CAN…BUT I DOUBT!…..YOU ARE BUSY FABRICATING FLIMSY AND SEETHROUGH LIES TO STAIN AND SOIL HER CHARACTER…BUT WE KNOW YOU ARE OF THE DEVIL…..SATANISTS,

  95. When God is in it….Goodness and Mercy follows you all the days of your life!….Dr Joyce The a Resilient AFRICAN Woman….INTERNATIONAL ICON

  96. Mama uyu amandimaliza kwambiri with her hardship palibenso mmalawi Juno, ena kungokuwakuwa basis, nothing to contribute to z nation like soode whiteyo kaya,kaliati. Genuenne to ndi was health uyu kalilani was pheeee kungodyerera uminister osatinso galu nankhumbayo kondwani, opangangitsa manyazi Ku chipani even Ku uministerial.

  97. Haters will vomit nonsense….but the world knows the truth!…..Dr Joyce is a rare breed of a Leader!

  100. When God writes your Cv..IT IS WRITTEN…Haters don’t have to like it…your enemies don’t have Ti Like it….Smiles can be false or forced….But the Supreme Judge does not operate on Hearsay or Public Opnion!…..Congratulations Your Excellency!

  101. Well done mama those with no papers will continue voice there words on you.

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