Nobel Peace laureate and Kyiv-based human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk while addressing the batch of 2024 at the 20th annual convocation of KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday said ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

In her convocation address, delivered virtually, Matviichuk said: “Achyuta Samanta’s example in building institutions and his efforts in reducing inequalities remind me of one simple truth — ordinary people have much more impact than they can even imagine. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”

Addressing the convocation, Odisha governor Raghubar Das said: “The country is going through both a challenging and exciting phase. It is estimated that Bharat will become the third largest economy of the world by 2030.”

Das said: “Today youths are playing a leading role in innovation and start-ups. India is among the top three countries in the world in the start-up ecosystem. They are making unicorns and providing opportunities to lakhs of people. Instead of job seekers, they are becoming job givers.”

The governor congratulated Dr Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS, for effectively using education as a tool for empowerment, helping underprivileged people integrate into the mainstream of the society.

Congratulating the batch of 2024 for their outstanding performance, Samanta exhorted students to take risks, fail, learn and rise. “Always keep in mind the 3 I’s: Idea, Innovation and Impact. These three will shape your future and the world around you,” he told the students.

A total of 7,283 students received degrees at the convocation ceremony. These include 5,455 bachelors, 1,597 masters and 186 PhD degrees.