The University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, on Saturday held a congregation for 562 students.
The graduates were part of students who completed various programmes of study from the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the Faculty of Sustainable Development, and the Faculty of Education.
The Chairman of the University Governing Council, Professor Wayo Seini, in his welcome remarks, said the management of the university was committed to expanding the infrastructure of the university to make tertiary education more accessible to students.
He said the country needed graduates who would think outside the box to find lasting solutions to the contemporary challenges facing it.
Prof. Seini urged government to invest more in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as it was one of the many ways to salvage the nation from its economic predicament.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye, indicated that as part of measures to help bridge the infrastructural deficit and improve access to quality university education, the UDS would establish an endowment fund, the UDSEF, to provide additional funds to complement government’s efforts to help the university deliver on its mandate.
He said the endowment fund would support scholarships for needy and talented students and the infrastructure of the university.
He added that the fund would also help support research activities of the university to place their lecturers in a better position to provide quality education to students.
Prof. Teye advised the graduates not to relent in seeking knowledge, stating that the acquisition of knowledge did not end with graduation.
The Vice-Chancellor urged them to use the knowledge acquired to make significant changes in their respective lives and society.
The Deputy Minister of Education and guest speaker for the event, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, on behalf of the government, pledged support to the university, especially the establishment of its endowment fund to support the infrastructural development on campus and brilliant but needy students to access university education.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour advised the graduands not to be complacent with their current academic achievements, but to strive for higher levels by constantly improving on their lives.
The event was attended by members of the University’s Governing Council, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Felix Abagale, the Principal of the Nyankpala campus, Prof. George Nyarko, Senior and Junior Members of the university community, representatives from other universities, a representative from the Ambariya Sunni Muslim community, as well as well-wishers of the graduands.
