CMU-Africa holds 13th graduation ceremony
The graduates received degrees from the College of Engineering’s master’s of science programs in electrical and computer engineering, information technology, and engineering artificial intelligence.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa celebrated its 13th graduation ceremony on May 15, honoring students from across the continent. The graduates received degrees from the College of Engineering’s master’s of science programs in electrical and computer engineering, information technology, and engineering artificial intelligence. With the graduation of the Class of 2026, CMU-Africa reached an important milestone: 1,000 alumni.
The keynote address was delivered by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji. Aboyeji is a founding partner of Future Africa, Africa’s largest seed stage investor. He has co-founded two of Africa's seven unicorn companies: Andela and Flutterwave. Aboyeji’s remarks focused on what is beneath the surface; it carried through the theme of “unseen and seen.” He offered three pieces of advice to graduates:
- Have the courage to seek and speak the truth. “Pursue truth, and when you find it, share it—not to prove your intelligence, but because a world without objective truth is dangerous.”
- Have hope. “The curse of knowledge is cynicism, particularly when it is based purely on what we can see.”
- Have purpose anchored by love.
He ended his remarks by singing a song from his Yoruba culture that speaks to the chasm between the seen and the unseen.
Class valedictorian Mustapha Alaba (MSIT ’26) is a first-generation master's degree holder. He has been selected as one of the 2026 AI for Good Scholars for the Innovate for Impact initiative by the International Telecommunication Union. In his remarks, he celebrated the hard work of his peers and recognized the successes inside and outside the classroom, including entrepreneurial endeavors, research projects, and community engagement.
“What I’m proudest of is that we did not keep any of it to ourselves. Knowledge, in this class, did not stop at CMU-Africa classrooms,” said Alaba.
He encouraged the Class of 2026 to “keep our hearts in good work and leave positive marks on the world.” He went on to say, “The world is Africa. The world is our individual countries. The world is the streets we grew up on, the schools that first taught us to read, and the people sitting in this room. And the world is also ourselves.”
Burcu Akinci, dean of the College of Engineering, spoke about the professional passion of the graduates–an intrinsic and sustainable enthusiasm for one’s work, characterized by high energy, engagement, and a deep sense of purpose. It drives individuals to go beyond job requirements, continuously learn, and demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges.
“In the future, you will likely find yourselves in important meetings and around conference tables where significant decisions are being made. Your thoughts, decisions, and actions will carry significant weight, and you can stimulate change to solve hard problems and drive toward better outcomes. I hope each of you recognizes your potential to contribute and make a difference in those moments, drawing on your expertise as intellectual and technological leaders.”
James H. Garrett Jr., provost and chief academic officer, congratulated graduates on behalf of Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian and all the leaders at CMU. He welcomed the graduates into the global community of 130,000 CMU alumni, “a family that will support you wherever your journey takes you.”
Interim Director of CMU-Africa Tim Brown challenged graduates to carve out their own unique path. “Now is not the time to follow the well-worn paths of previous generations. These old paths are washed away. We are entering the African era. The future for Africa looks bright. You have the skills, confidence, and teamwork to steer your own course far into this future.”
Several students were recognized for their academic and research achievements. CMU-Africa Student Achievement Awards were given to: Cynthia Iradukunda (MSIT ’26), Evelyne Umubyeyi (MS EAI ’26), and Ritah Kayesu (MS ECE ’26).
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!