WMU Graduation Ceremony 2025
On 1 November, the latest cohort of the maritime and oceans leaders of tomorrow graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU). The Class of 2025 has received the education required to contribute to maritime and oceans issues in their home countries and more broadly to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The record class of over 300 graduates brings the overall number of WMU alumni to more than 6,600 from 171 countries.
Welcome remarks were delivered by WMU President, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., who expressed collective gratitude to all donors who support the University. President Mejia reflected on his own experience as a WMU student and on the University’s lasting impact in shaping the way graduates think, work, plan, and interact. He also spoke about the strength of the WMU network—from faculty and staff to visiting lecturers and experts—a network that graduates will continue to rely on for decades to come. He highlighted the generations of WMU alumni who have joined this unique University and emerged as better, stronger, and wiser individuals.
Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Chancellor of WMU and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), thanked the City of Malmö and the Government of Sweden for their continued generosity and support in hosting the University, as well as the many donors for their ongoing commitment to WMU. He praised the strong sense of community that WMU fosters, and encouraged the graduates to embrace that global network as they face the challenges of today’s world, and turn them into opportunities. He encouraged them to apply what they have learned to their advantage, being proactive in their work, and sharing with colleagues. “The more you support each other and work together, the more successful you will be,” he said.
On behalf of the City of Malmö, Ms. Carina Nilsson, Mayor and Chairperson of the Malmö City Council, addressed the gathering and expressed the City’s pride in hosting the University. She congratulated the graduates, noting that one of the greatest strengths of WMU is its diversity, with graduates from 171 countries—a quality Malmö shares, with residents representing 186 nations—making it a fitting home for WMU. She emphasized that diversity creates opportunities to build relationships, share experiences, and learn from one another, fostering greater understanding and serving as a foundation for peace in the world. She added that the work the graduates will undertake will be instrumental in creating a safer, more eco-friendly, and sustainable maritime world.
Ms Sofiana Kontouri, President of the Student Council for the Class of 2025, delivered remarks on behalf of the graduating Class. She reflected on their transformative journey at WMU, celebrating the unity of 127 graduates in the Malmö MSc programme representing 53 nations. “We arrived in Malmö as individuals, but we stand here today as one,” she said, highlighting how shared challenges fostered lifelong friendships and a global family bound by resilience and collaboration. “In the midst of that pressure, we found our greatest strength: each other. We turned to the person next to us, a person from a different continent, with a different story and we found a friend. We built a network that isn't just professional; it's personal. We studied together, we struggled together, and today, we triumph together.” Expressing gratitude to WMU’s leadership, faculty, and staff, she emphasized their vital role in guiding and inspiring the students. She concluded with a call to action—urging her fellow graduates to lead with purpose and work toward a sustainable, inclusive, and harmonious future.
In addition to the annual performance by the WMU Choir, the audience had the pleasure of hearing a solo rendition of “Time to say goodbye” by Mr Alexander Melifonwu of Nigeria, which received a standing ovation.
The 2025 graduation ceremony brings the total number of WMU graduates to over 6,600 from 171 countries and territories.
To access the recorded ceremony, click here.
AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE CEREMONY
Doctor of Science honoris causa
Mr Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation, and member of WMU’s Executive Board from 2016 until 2024. Mr Unno has been closely associated with the University for many years. He has promoted WMU in the widest possible arena, and has led the support for the University’s involvement in oceans affairs. He has a keen interest in developing both human capacity and new technologies in the maritime and oceans field, demonstrated by the funding by The Nippon Foundation of the studies of 842 maritime and oceans professionals from more than 85 countries at WMU. Mr Unno has supported the University and its students personally, believing in the importance of interpersonal bonds and dialogue. He and The Nippon Foundation have been of immense assistance in many innovations at WMU, from the new WMU building and its auditorium, to the foundation and funding of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI). The Nippon Foundation has also funded professorial Chairs at WMU over many years. The number increased to seven Chairs earlier this year, in addition to the faculty employed at the GOI.
Her Excellency Ambassador Marie Jacobsson, was the Principal Legal Adviser on International Law and Ambassador at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Stockholm until her retirement on 1 June 2023. Dr Jacobsson’s work focuses on international peace and security matters, and she has extensive experience of high-level multilateral and bilateral negotiations on the law of the sea, polar law, international environmental law, boundary delimitation, regional security affairs, international humanitarian law and arms control. She is Member of Permanent Court of Arbitration and designated arbitrator under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and Conciliator, Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE.
Professor Emeritus
Professor Takeshi Nakazawa first joined WMU as an Associate Professor in 1997, when he was released by Kobe University for a two-year period. He returned to Kobe in due course, but then re-joined WMU in 2003 as a full professor and Head of the MET Specialization. He had significant input into WMU’s work across all areas of activity. From 2012, he transitioned into a new role as part-time Professor, and continued to contribute significantly to teaching and student supervision.
Outstanding Alumnus
Vice-Admiral (rtd) Awwad Eid Al-Aradi Al-Balawi, formerly Director General of the Saudi Arabian Border Guards and a member of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia (the Shura Council) since 2024. Vice-Admiral Al-Aradi has had a long and distinguished career in the service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He spent almost five decades as an officer of the Saudi Border Guard, concluding with spending six years as its Director-General, until his retirement in 2020. He graduated from WMU with a Master of Science in General Maritime Administration in 1988.
Annual Student Awards
Two students had identical grades at the top of their class. Chancellor’s Medals in the MSc in Maritime Affairs were awarded to Mr Lucas Fernando Vaquero Roviriego (Brazil) and Mr Zhang Yang (China). The C P Srivastava Award for International Fellowship, was awarded to Mr Bismark Acheampong (Ghana). The Lloyd’s Maritime Academy Distance Learning Prize was awarded to Mr Antonio Borraccino (Italy). The Lloyd’s Maritime Academy Dissertation Prize was awarded to Mr Emmanuel Agbeko (Ghana). The Schlüter Foundation Dissertation Prize for an outstanding dissertation in the field of Shipping and Marine Environmental Protection was awarded to Ms Masego Mosupye (South Africa), and the Secretary-General’s Prize for best dissertation was awarded to Mr Mamadou Bajo (Gambia). The DNV Maritime Safety and Sustainability Prizes were awarded to Ms Akanksha Batura (Singapore) and Mr Marcin Jurkun (Poland).
For 2025, the Specialization Prizes for the MSc in Maritime Affairs were endowed by the Asia House Denmark and included: for Maritime Education & Training, Mr Juan Alberto Sanchez Castañeda (Peru); for Maritime Energy Management, Mr John Peter Kabonge (Uganda); for Maritime Law & Policy, Ms Yang Zhang (China); for Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration, Mr Ridho Budiman (Indonesia); for Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management, Mr Emmanuel Agbeko (Ghana); for Port Management, Mr Lucas Fernando Vaquero Roviriego (Brazil); for Shipping Management & Logistics, Mr Joshua Obayan (Nigeria) ; for International Transport and Logistics, taught in Shanghai, Mr Zhang Lei (China); and for Maritime Safety and Environmental Management, taught in Dalian, Mr Fang Xinliang (China).
Recipients of the Kalmar Prizes, awarded by Kalmar Global to students who are recognized as leaders among their peers, included: Ms Lydia Salla Kadiri (Nigeria), Mr Lucas Fernando Vaquero Roviriego (Brazil), Mr Joshua Obayan (Nigeria), Ms Idil Mohamed (Somalia), Mr Damian Tiscornia (Argentina), Mr Zhanfeng Lang (China), Ms Tosca Pinas (Suriname), Ms Ms Masego Mosupye (South Africa), Mr Emmanuel Agbeko (Ghana), and Mr Bismark Acheampong (Ghana).
Additional WMU Graduation Ceremonies in 2025
From 23 -25 July, the World Maritime University (WMU) celebrated the graduation ceremonies, and 20 year milestone anniversary, of the two Master of Science (MSc) in Maritime Affairs specializations offered in China. Established in 2005, the International Transport and Logistics (ITL) specialization is delivered in Shanghai in partnership with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), and the Maritime Safety and Environmental Management (MSEM) specialization is delivered in Dalian in cooperation with Dalian Maritime University (DMU). To date, there are 1,407 graduates since the inception of the programmes.
The first WMU graduation ceremony of 2025 took place on 23 July for 33 students in the MSc in Maritime Affairs with a specialization in International Transport and Logistics (Shipping & Finance) (ITL) offered in cooperation with Shanghai Maritime University took place in Shanghai. On 25 July, the graduation ceremony took place for 54 students in WMU’s MSc in Maritime Affairs with a specialization in Maritime Safety and Environmental Management (MSEM) offered in cooperation with Dalian Maritime University in Dalian, China.
