The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana,Mrs. Elsie Addo Awadzi, has challenged the University of Ghana (UG) to, in the next 75 years, consolidate its gains made and position itself to thrive in the dynamic environment of higher education in the country and beyond by considering a number of factors.
She asked the university to among others consider course offerings and enrichment programmes for students; modernise teaching of relevant subjects and establish strong ethical and moral foundation for students.
She also urged it to promote strong sense of community, build strong collaboration with industries as well as proactively explore opportunities for funding.
Mrs Awadzi was speaking at the launch of UG’s 75th anniversary in Accra yesterday on the theme “Nurturing resilience: Adopting technology, embracing humanism.”
Activities lined up for the year-long anniversary celebration include fun games, alumni homecoming, banquet, charity exercises, “My UG Day,” and festivals for unions.
Mrs Awadzi emphasised that it was crucial for students to be equipped with skills and trainings to prepare and help them take up great tasks, mantles in the years ahead to benefit the country and the world at large.
She entreated the university to take advantage of technologies relevant to education and attract experts from within and beyond the country to bring on board their expertise.
“I challenge this great university to renew and strengthen its ethical principles and standards,” she added.
Recounting her experiences as an alumni and lauding the university for the feat chalked, she said “my UG experience was transformational and it has served me, my family, Ghana and the world well.”
She commended successive administrations for the immense roles they had played over the years and said that though there had been some “not so positive” moments along the way, there had been an immeasurable transformation along the line.
Mrs Awadzi was optimistic that the next 75 years for UG would bring a big push for investments and technology.
Vice Chancellor, UG, Prof. Nana Aba AppiahAmfo, stated that UG had over the years provided dedicated service to the nation by positively impacting the country and the world at large.
He reiterated that the anniversary presented an opportunity to reflect the gains made in the past 75 years and project into the future what can be done.
She said that the theme of the anniversary took its direction from the university’s vision and from the multiple and rapid changes occurring in Africa and the world, especially in higher education.
“When I was inducted into office on October 26, as the 13th Vice-Chancellor, I shared my vision to create a culture that promotes research, teaching and learning, administrative processes and extension activities driven by technology and anchored in humanism,” she stated.
“This vision supports the university’s overall vision of becoming a world class research intensive university,” she added.
As such, Prof.Amfo said the 75th anniversary gave the university the opportunity to actualise this vision, celebrate achievements and reflect on ways they could advance as an institution of higher learning.
Launching the anniversary, chairperson of University Council, Justice Sophia Akuffo (rtd), said the theme encapsulated what the university stood for and sought to achieve.
PHOTO BY GEOFFREY BUTA
