Celebrating Vision, Community, and Purpose in Mississauga
Leading figures of the Pakistani diaspora in Canada gathered at Habib University’s “Shaping Futures in a Fractured World” fundraising gala in Mississauga on October 17, 2025, to advocate for equitable access to education and knowledge as the means to heal deepening rifts around the globe.
The evening brought together prominent entrepreneurs, philanthropists, higher education advocates, and other distinguished guests to reflect on Habib University’s decade-long journey and pledge renewed support for its mission of cultivating critical, conscious, and community-minded graduates.
The gala featured a keynote speech by award-winning Canadian journalist, writer and podcaster Aaron Maté, as well as a welcome note by Muslim Hassan, Chair of Habib University Foundation Canada.
Honoring the Legacy of Rafiq M. Habib
Mr. Hassan began his remarks by paying a moving tribute to late Founding Chancellor of Habib University Rafiq M. Habib. “He was a visionary business leader and philanthropist. His passing leaves a void that cannot easily be filled,” said Mr. Hassan, as he invited the guests in attendance to build on and continue his mission of supporting higher education and shaping the future of Pakistan and the world.
“In a world challenged by uncertainty and division, Habib University stands for progress, purpose, and hope — a model for what can emerge when generosity meets vision. Your presence this evening is a reminder that this community believes deeply in the power of education and the change it can bring,” Mr. Hassan added, expressing gratitude for the community’s enduring commitment.
Habib University’s Enduring Vision: Knowledge as Reparation
The President of Habib University, Wasif Rizvi, noted that the institution was founded as a direct response to global crises of knowledge, inequity, and exclusion. “Rafiq Sahib’s vision was not merely philanthropic — it was civilizational. His act of creating Habib University was a response to the ethical and intellectual collapse we witness today. His philanthropy was reparative — meant to rebuild what was broken in our society,” he told members of the Habib University community in Canada.
Noting that Habib University remains one of the few truly independent, courageous intellectual spaces rooted in purpose and inclusivity, Mr. Rizvi stressed that it has stood firm for a decade because of people who understood its vision early.
“We live in an age where truth and conscience are under assault. The challenges today require deeper commitment, broader engagement, and bolder imagination,” Mr. Rizvi concluded, calling on the diaspora to remain stewards of this intellectual and moral project.
A Call to Nurture Minds That Question and Create
In his keynote address, renowned journalist, Aaron Maté emphasized that in a world where leaders invest heavily in keeping people passive, the most powerful act is to nurture minds that can think freely, question fearlessly, and imagine boldly. He noted that Habib University embodies this mission by shaping thinkers to lead with purpose in a very cruel and unjust world.
An Alumnus’ Reflection: From Access to Transformation
Prominent Habib University alumnus Sameer Nizamuddin also shared his journey and reflections at the event.
“Inaccessibility and systemic barriers in higher education perpetuate inequality today — and countries like Pakistan, where systems continue to tackle financial instability, are affected most,” he shared, pointing out that a mere 12 per cent of Pakistan’s youth has access to tertiary education.
“In the midst of this apartheid, Habib University promises hope, reimagining access through programs like HU TOPS (Talent Outreach, Promotion & Support), launched in 2016, which offers 100 per cent scholarships to high-merit students from local boards.”
Mr. Nizamuddin emphasized that Habib University has set a strong example not just for Pakistan or the Global South, but for the whole world by proving that access to education should not only be seen as an act of charity, but a structural intervention for long-term impact.
“At Habib, I learned what it truly means to be a critical and responsible citizen. Habib nurtured in me the courage to move beyond passive learning — to engage actively in transforming ourselves, our communities, and the world. Habib University is proof that when communities come together to invest in ideas, it doesn’t just change lives of individuals; it has the power to rebuild entire systems,” he reflected.
Renewed Commitment to Educational Reparation
As the evening came to a close, guests pledged continued support for Habib University’s mission to nurture a new generation of thinkers, leaders, and citizens dedicated to the public good. Ms. Marzia Habib Hassan delivered the vote of thanks, expressing heartfelt appreciation to all attendees for their belief in the transformative power of education.
In an increasingly fractured world, marked by ever-widening schisms and erasures, the Habib University’s fundraising gala in Mississauga stood as a reminder that generosity, community, and education remain humanity’s most powerful tools for reparation and renewal.
Join our mission to make education equitable and transformative. Support Habib University’s vision for shaping futures grounded in conscience and compassion.
