Press Release
A call to action has been issued to 161 of the most outstanding academic scholars at University of The Bahamas (UB) to use their skills and talents to “fight for The Bahamas”, especially in an age where the opportunities to augment human intelligence have grown by leaps and bounds.
The charge came at UB’s 2025 Academic Honours Convocation held on Friday, a celebration of scholars who earned the top GPAs for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. Delivering the keynote address was UB alumnus Onassis Nottage, an AI professional and Vice Chairperson of the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality’s Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence. In a historic first for UB, Nottage shared the platform with a real-time AI partner as he spoke on the theme “Honouring Excellence, Embracing Tomorrow: AI, Humanity, and Global Responsibility.”
He spoke fondly and proudly about the strong academic foundation he had received at UB which helped him to flourish in his subsequent academic, professional and personal pursuits. It was a message that resonated deeply with the outstanding scholars and those who came to support them.
“It is very important for us to learn how to fight for our country. When I say fight for the country, I’m not referring to the police and the defence force,” Nottage said. “What I mean is using the skills you currently have to assist in the development of your country and people because… in the words of our first prime minister, the Hon. Sir Lynden O. Pindling ‘If you can’t fight for your country, you don’t deserve to have it.’”
Nottage’s fight came in the form of turning down an offer to become a permanent resident of Spain and work there after earning his master’s degree. He decided instead to help The Bahamas develop new technology-based knowledge and capabilities. He urged the students to embrace the rigour of UB.
“I have so much faith in UB that I had to come back and let you know the success story,” Nottage said.
He encouraged students to recognise their own worth, well beyond monetary measures.
“It does not matter where you work. It does not matter where you’re from. It doesn’t matter what your gender is, or how much money is in your pocket. On the outside you may think you are only worth $30, but on the inside in that big beautiful mind of yours, you are worth $500 million,” Nottage told the outstanding scholars.
His AI Assistant added a fitting reminder, “The future is not only coming, it’s waiting on you to build it.”
Among the honourees, Primary Education major Liam Slater earned the highest GPA across Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. Katie Curry, a Biology with Chemistry major, earned the second-highest. Third and fourth place, respectively, went to Sanaa Knowles, Banking & Finance, and Tershea Clarke, Primary Education majors.
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Woodside-Oriakhi, commended the scholars for their discipline, resilience, and commitment to excellence.
“Honourees, wear today’s recognition with humility and resolve. Let it propel you to further inquiry, creativity, and leadership, here at UB and far beyond. May you build careers and lives that strengthen The Bahamas and serve the wider world with compassion and courage,” she said.
President Dr. Robert Blaine, III, highlighted the notion of leveraging technology to unleash the creative strengths of communities. He urged the scholars to “understand the principles of the past and use them to create the new knowledge of the future.
“I challenge you to bring understanding to all you do and to use every tool to share and expand your understanding,” Dr. Blaine said.
Chair of the UB Board of Trustees, Allyson Maynard Gibson, KC, also extended heartfelt commendations to the scholars. Reflecting on the convocation’s theme, she noted that while AI presents opportunities, it also poses risks. Still, she expressed full confidence in this generation’s capacity to lead wisely in this new era.
“Despite the tremendous time and resources employed in the development of this technology, we have still not created proper guardrails and frameworks to ensure the ethical and sustainable use of AI. I have no doubt that the bright minds in this room like our keynote speaker, like you, will foster invention and contribute to propelling this nation and the world forward,” Mrs. Maynard-Gibson said.
UB North in Grand Bahama will host its own 2025 Honours Convocation on Friday 21st November.
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