Radio Africa Group Chief Executive Officer Martin Khafafa has challenged young people to use the skills they have acquired to make a positive contribution to the country.
Speaking at Nova Pioneer Tatu Boys', Khafafa, who was the chief guest during the colourful ceremony, urged the 2026 graduates to be mindful of the decisions they make, saying freedom will be exhilarating, but freedom without discipline becomes self-destructive.
“The greatest battles you're willing to face are not against other people, but against yourself. You will face battles against laziness, destruction, mediocrity and the temptation to choose what is easy instead of what is right.”
During the event, 65 students graduated.
Nova Pioneer managing director for East Africa Dr London Moore, founding director Pioneer Schools Chris Khaemba, executive principal Andrew Meraba, head of boys Austin Oketch, PTA chairperson Charles Nyamu and dean of instruction and learning Robert Lemayian were present.
Khafafa urged the class of 2026 to take control of their destiny.
He said the world they are entering is changing faster than any generation before, and artificial intelligence is now in force.
Khafafa said what is relevant today could disappear tomorrow, and jobs that exist today may disappear overnight.
“New careers that do not exist will become commonplace within a few years. All I'm trying to tell you is you cannot prepare for tomorrow with yesterday's knowledge. In short, you have to become a lifelong learner,” he said.
Khafafa urged the students to read widely, ask questions and stay curious.
He said Radio Africa Group is teeming with young talent, full of energy and passion.
Khafafa told the graduates the certificates they received are not proof that their education is complete but a licence for the second part of their lives.
He urged young people to jealously guard their character, saying it will always outlast popularity.
“There are famous people, and you know them, but they are not respected. Aim to become men who are trusted. A man whose word can be believed. A man who arrives on time. A man who keeps his promises. A man who treats people with dignity even when they do nothing for him because reputation opens doors.”
Khafafa said the students should not fear failure but should fear giving up.
“You cannot afford to give up because the world will be yours. Every successful person you admire has a collection of failures hidden behind their achievements. Failure is not the opposite of success.”
Khafafa said failure is the path to success.
He said the students should spend less time comparing themselves to others and instead spend more time improving themselves.
Khafafa said comparison breeds envy, while growth builds confidence.
“Always use your peers not to compare yourself against them but to benchmark so that if you're below, you pull yourself up, if you're above, you go to the next level and always have a mentor.”
He also challenged the students to surround themselves with people who challenge them to become better.
The CEO said they should also surround themselves with people who will tell them the truth about what they have done and not what they want to hear.
Khafafa urged them to keep good company, adding that they should never underestimate the power of good company or the destruction caused by bad company.
He said that because of issues around governance and unemployment, young people are desperate and are doing desperate things.
“I'd like to believe that the parents here and teachers have raised young men who can never be goons in society. Rather, you have raised young men who will go on to build businesses, create jobs, discover medicine, write books, design technology, protect the vulnerable and lead the average person, but you will never be goons.”
Khaemba challenged the students to aim higher and improve on where last year's cohort left off.
His sentiments were echoed by Lemayian, who said they want to improve the mean grade from this year's mean grade of 10.2 to over 10.5.
Nyamu said he is sure the second-last cohort of the 8-4-4 system will perform.
“They are the last cohort of Gen Z, and they will usher in Generation Alpha. Any support given to them is significant as they will leave a mark for their predecessors,” Nyamu said.
