By Teng Lauban Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief
Cotabato City — To recognize his exemplary contributions to humanity and peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro region, the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Development, honoris causa to Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim.
The conferment, which took place during the 55th Commencement Exercises (1st Semester A.Y. 2019-2020) of the MSU-Marawi recently, was upon the recommendation of MSU System President Habib Macaayong and approval of the members of the Board of Regents.
“I am accepting this honorary degree not for myself, but for the Bangsamoro struggle and the Bangsamoro people,” Ebrahim said.
Based on Memorandum Order No. 10, Series of 2014 of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), an honorary degree is “an extraordinary academic degree awarded to an eminent individual (who may be an alumnus, or one who have never been connected with the awarding institution).”
The memorandum further says that the degree “shall be awarded in recognition of an individual’s meritorious contributions to the advancement of a field in a particular discipline, through exemplary accomplishments in instruction, research, and practice, and his/her personal humanitarian accomplishments and/or contribution to the institution and society, rather than as a result of academic matriculation and study.”
Ebrahim, who was also the commencement speaker, recalled in his speech that he was once an MSU student, 55 years ago. After being granted a government scholarship program, he then transferred to Notre Dame University in Cotabato City and took up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
“And yet, with another twist, before finishing my fifth year in college, I decided to pursue a calling bigger than all of us—the rise of the Moro movement,” Ebrahim recalled. “Without hesitation, I left the university and joined the movement’s military training in 1970.” (with reports from barmm bpi)
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