News Desk
ISLAMABAD — President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was on Wednesday conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Politics and International Relations by the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), recognizing his contributions to public service, national governance, and institutional development in the Maldives.
The conferment ceremony took place at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. The honorary degree was presented by Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and IIUI Rector Professor Dr Ahmed Saad Al Ahmed, before an audience of senior Maldivian and Pakistani government officials.
In his acceptance remarks, President Muizzu reflected on his academic journey, drawing a comparison to earning his Doctor of Philosophy in civil engineering 17 years prior. He emphasized that the honorary recognition belonged to the broader citizenry of the Maldives.
“Although it has been given to me, it is the people of the Maldives who have earned it. And it is the friendship of your great nation that has conferred it. I receive this honour, and through it, you honour my people, my country and the friendship we share.”
— President Dr Mohamed Muizzu
The President highlighted the shared ethos uniting the Maldives and Pakistan, noting that IIUI embodies the vital principle that faith and knowledge must advance in tandem to serve humanity.
Addressing international relations and the moral responsibilities of leadership in an era marked by technological progress and global friction, President Muizzu articulated the foundational foreign policy principles of his administration.
He stressed that small island nations carry equal standing in the global community, asserting that sovereignty and moral worth are independent of geographic size or material power.
“Although we may be a small island nation, we believe firmly that dignity is not measured by land mass, nor is integrity determined by economic or military strength,” President Muizzu said. “We believe that every nation deserves respect, every people deserves dignity, and every generation deserves the opportunity to inherit a more peaceful and just world.”
The ceremony concluded with an official photography session, marking another high-profile engagement during the Maldivian head of state’s ongoing state visit to Pakistan.
