Distinguished Speaker Series: Malala Yousafzai

Good evening!

On behalf of the entire University at Buffalo community, I’d like to welcome you to the first lecture of UB’s 31st Annual Distinguished Speakers Series!

It is my pleasure to join you for what has become a great tradition for our community. Public research universities like UB play a critical role in addressing key social issues and challenges that impact our communities—locally and globally. Encouraging thoughtful, informed dialogue is a main purpose of our Distinguished Speakers Series.

Each year we strive to present a diverse range of speakers who can share their wisdom, insights, and talents with our campus, to enrich our university and the greater community. Over the years, UB has hosted many distinguished speakers. In fact, tonight, we are welcoming our 10th Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Those of you with us this evening are likely familiar with the hardships and obstacles Malala overcame in her native Pakistan, where she risked her life to advocate for girls’ education. While still a teenager, she became universally recognized as a staunch defender of freedom of thought and a powerful voice for the oppressed.

Today, she is a humanitarian, a best-selling author and an inspiring role model who is admired the world over for her courage and determination in her fearless crusade for education rights.

In recognition of her trailblazing activism and advocacy, Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, at the age of 17. A global advocate for millions of children who are denied a formal education, she co-founded the Malala Fund to bring awareness to the social and economic impact of girls’ education, and to empower girls to:

• raise their voices;
• unlock their potential,
• and demand change.

Through the Malala Fund, and events like tonight’s lecture, Malala continues to advocate for girls and young women to receive an education and to become agents of change in their communities and globally. She is one of the foremost champions for educational opportunity and access.

These are principles and values that we at UB embrace. And while we would have welcomed her application to enroll at the University at Buffalo, I understand that Malala has been accepted to attend Oxford University.

We truly are fortunate to have with us this evening the young woman who took on the Taliban because she wanted to go to school. We look forward to hearing how her sense of higher purpose has guided her incredible journey.

And now, without further ado, please join me in welcoming Ms. Malala Yousafzai!