City University marked the graduation of a new class of students with a special ceremony held on campus, under the patronage and in the presence of the Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, MP Faisal Karami, alongside his wife Mrs. Janan Karami, University President Dr. Walid Dagher, and the deans of faculties.

The event was attended by MPs Taha Naji and Jamil Abboud with his wife Doreen, representatives of MPs Ashraf Rifi, Karim Kabbara, and Adib Abdel Massih, as well as prominent religious leaders including the Mufti of Tripoli and North Lebanon Sheikh Mohammad Imam, Sheikh Ali Kaddour, Metropolitan Ephram Kyriakos of the Orthodox Church, Archbishop Edouard Daher of the Melkite Catholic Church, Monsignor Joseph Ghabash representing Archbishop Youssef Soueif of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli, and Krikor Yeghiayan representing the Armenian Orthodox Bishop of Lebanon, Shahié Panossian. Also present were mayors and heads of municipal unions from Tripoli, Dinnieh, and North Lebanon, professional syndicate leaders, military and security officials, members of the University’s Board of Trustees and Al-Manar Association, heads of universities and schools in the region, a delegation from the Lebanese Red Cross, and a large number of graduates’ families.

The ceremony opened with the graduates’ procession amid warm applause, followed by the Lebanese national anthem and the university anthem. Host Arwa Haddad then welcomed the audience and officially launched the event.

University President Dr. Walid Dagher addressed the graduates, stressing that this day was “a harvest of many years of effort and hard work, and a moment of shared joy and pride for parents, students, and professors alike.” He described City University as more than just an academic institution — a national educational mission dedicated to shaping well-rounded individuals, preparing generations capable of meeting challenges with knowledge, ethics, and responsibility. He praised the ongoing support of Minister Faisal Karami in advancing the university’s mission.

Representing the graduates, Wissam Karim Hawshar from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology delivered a heartfelt speech, expressing gratitude to his professors, family, and colleagues. He said, “Today is the fruit of years of perseverance and dedication. We step forward into the world with confidence, without forgetting those who supported us along the way.”

In his speech, MP Faisal Karami expressed his pride in seeing a new generation stepping into the future. “Graduation is not only leaving university; it is entering life itself,” he said, urging graduates to hold on to their dreams and never compromise them under pressure. He added, “You are the generation that knows how to harness technological progress, and you carry with you a weapon that no one can take away — knowledge.”

Karami also emphasized that reforms in Lebanon have become an urgent necessity, representing the only path for the younger generation to access opportunities free from political favoritism and sectarian divisions. He warned that Lebanon risks becoming even more of a country that pushes its youth away if such constraints persist.

The ceremony also featured a special recognition, where MP Faisal Karami presented an honorary shield to MP Dr. Taha Naji in appreciation of his contributions and dedication to education and community service.

The event concluded with the distribution of diplomas by the University President, amid joy and pride. Graduates then tossed their caps, marking the end of their academic journey, followed by the traditional cake-cutting and group photos — moments destined to remain unforgettable.

Through this celebration, the university reaffirmed its confidence in its graduates, seeing them as ambassadors carrying its mission forward into a brighter future.