The Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Neenyi Ghartey VII, has urged graduates to play active roles in rebuilding the nation, stressing that development is a shared responsibility of all citizens.
He said they must apply the knowledge and skills acquired for the accelerated growth of the nation, especially at a time when the country was implementing economic reforms and fiscal discipline measures.
“Opportunity will not always be provided; it must often be created,” the Chancellor said, adding that they must work towards becoming innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers.
He said the country’s development depended on graduates who were ready to act immediately rather than wait for certainty.
The Chancellor was speaking during the second session of the university’s 30th congregation in Winneba last Friday, where graduates were awarded degrees and diplomas after they had completed their respective academic programmes.
A total of 7,951 students graduated in the session.
They comprised 6,517 bachelor’s degree holders, 457 diploma recipients and 949 postgraduates, including 31 PhD and 264 MPhil students.
The event was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, university management, parents and well-wishers, among others.
Transformation
The Chancellor also challenged the university to evolve into a problem-solving institution that connected teaching and research to real societal needs.
He said universities should prioritise research that delivered measurable impact in areas such as public sector efficiency, innovation systems and private sector growth.
“We must train graduates who understand not only theory but application, not only knowledge but impact,” the Chancellor said, while appealing to the government to treat universities as strategic partners in nation-building rather than mere expenditure centres.
Teacher contribution
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, in a speech read on his behalf by his Technical Advisor, Prof. George Oduro, underscored the central role of teachers in national development, describing teacher education as the backbone of the nation’s progress.
The graduates
He said no sector of the country’s development agenda could succeed without the contribution of quality teachers; hence, the decision to improve teacher training and also strengthen foundational learning across the education system.
The minister said his outfit was close to completing a review of the basic school curriculum with a focus on mathematics, language, science and technology, as well as
value-driven cultural and social development.
He explained that improving foundational education would significantly reduce challenges at the tertiary level while also preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven world.
The minister encouraged the graduates to see their qualifications as a responsibility rather than merely an achievement.
“You are carrying more than a degree; you carry the hopes of a nation,” he said, adding that they must use their knowledge and skills to solve problems in their various communities.
Appreciation
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Stephen Jobson Mitchual, expressed appreciation to the government for its continued support in expanding infrastructure, advancing digitisation and strengthening quality assurance in the tertiary sector.
He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to transforming knowledge into a force for empowerment and national development, particularly through flexible and technology-driven learning models that extended education to working professionals and underserved communities.
Prof. Mitchual said there was ongoing expansion of distance education centres in various parts of the country to improve access to quality higher education.
He said the university had also developed structured self-instructional courseware and innovative learning platforms to ensure that flexibility would not compromise academic standards.
The Vice-Chancellor further congratulated the graduates and advised them to demonstrate competence, integrity and professionalism at their workplaces and communities.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh