On December 7, 2013, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) presented the Insignia Award for Doctorate Honoris Causa in Social Sciences to the President of the Federation of Municipalities of Keserwan - Ftouh and Mayor of Zouk Mikael, Att. Nouhad Nawfal. The ceremony that was attended by the President of the University, Reverend Father Hady Mahfouz and the members of the academic council, and was held at the John Paul II Amphitheater, at USEK main Campus, in the presence of the representative of the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al Rai, Monsignor Boulos Rouhana, the Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order Reverend Father Abbot Tannous Nehme, several ministers and deputies, representatives of party leaders and many spiritual , political, military, judicial, security, labor, municipal, educational and social personalities.
The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem. Then the host of the ceremony, Lea Yahchouchi addressed the crowd, by presenting the most important achievements of Att. Nawfal in the social field. She stated: “Att. Nawfal has received national and global insignias, and the municipality of Zouk Mikael was able, thanks to him, to get the UNESCO award for ‘the best city of peace in the Arab world’ for the year 1999-2000, as well as the award for ‘the most beautiful city in the Arab countries’ after a competition monitored by the organization of Arab cities.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, Professor Hoda Nehme, said: “Being a law professor, a mayor for half a century and an activist, then getting Honoris Causa Doctorate in Social Sciences is part of the special and historical moments in the life of every person.”
Furthermore, Jean-Marie Tétart, Deputy and Vice-President of the Yvelines General Council - France, said: “Att. Nawfal is a dedicated man that is always in the service of the others. I have a great respect for him because of this quality, which I discovered in him when he shared his experiences with me, including the political ones, during the most difficult events witnessed by Lebanon.”
The President of USEK, Reverend Father Hady Mahfouz stated: “Five gowns parade before us in this unique evening, intertwining so perfectly that they produce their own material that is the Honoris Causa Doctorate in Social Sciences, awarded by the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik to Att. Nouhad Nawfal.” He added: “The first is the gown of principles, that, while being woven with abstractions, it governs a major part of our real and concrete life. The gown of principles is mirrored in that of positivity, in which Nouhad Nawfal believes. This gaze brings us to the third gown, the gown of the public cause. The public cause enslaves itself to the ‘we’ and to the ‘I’, while preventing the ‘I’ from undermining thr ‘we’.” Father Mahfouz ended by noting:”the fourth gown is the love for Lebanon, for the Lebanese and for the society we live in.”
Reverend Father Mahfouz also spoke of the gown of silence, saying: “This is how Att. Nawfal began his speech at the tribute ceremony organized in his honor on October 25, 2013 in Zouk Mikhael: 'During my fifty years as a mayor, my constant companion has been silence.’ So he had stolen the words from his lips, to offer it to his actions, which were better able to talk about him.”
After the screening of a documentary about the life of Att. Nawfal, the latter talked about his career as a lawyer and said: "The law gives the municipality a role beyond the development and beyond people.” He continued: “When I tried to answer the question: what does society want? Several answers have accumulated in my head following the dialogue I held with citizens and in which I felt nostalgia to the lost glory during the First World War.” And after talking about the success of municipal work, he added: “Sociology, which aims to study social phenomena, allows me to attend classes as a student who has completed an important mission during a transitional period.”
A reception ceremony followed.