By Godfred A. Polkuu
Navrongo (U/E), Aug. 29, GNA – Professor Albert Luguterah, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), has urged graduates to use their education as a toolkit for innovation and hope for the future.
Professor Luguterah gave the advice at the fourth graduation ceremony of 94 students, comprising graduates, undergraduate and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students at CKT-UTAS in Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region.
He said they had navigated the complexities of postgraduate studies with resilience, determination, and unyielding pursuit of knowledge, noting that their achievement was not just a testament to their intellect, but to their character and perseverance.
“As you step into the world beyond these walls, remember that your education is not just a collection of facts and theories. It is a toolkit for innovation, a foundation for leadership, and a beacon of hope for the future,” he said.
He stressed that the challenges they would face were opportunities in disguise, waiting for their unique perspective and expertise, and embracing the unknown with courage, therefore they must allow their curiosity to drive them to explore uncharted territories.
The VC encouraged them to be change-makers, innovators, and leaders who would shape the future, saying “Your journey does not end here; it is only the beginning of a lifelong quest for growth and impact.”
Prof. Luguterah said education was a powerful weapon, urging the graduates to use this power wisely, with compassion and integrity, striving not only for personal success but for the betterment of society.
He congratulated the graduates and said the world awaited their brilliance and urged them to go forth and make their mark.
Prof. Luguterah again thanked the staff of the University for their hard work and the many sacrifices made to train these students despite the limited resources at your disposal.
On some challenges of the University, the VC said its present staff strength of 324 was precariously low, given the size of the institution, the number of programmes it ran, and the kind of training that its mandate required that it gave.
The staff comprised 145 senior academic members, 57 senior administrative professionals, 64 senior staff and 58 junior staff with 27 casual staff paid from the Internally Generated Fund.
He thanked the government, through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission for the financial clearance given for the recruitment of 22 staff, and further appealed for more support in that regard to beef up the University’s staff strength to meet a student population of 3,596 comprising 2,895 undergraduate students and 701 graduate students.
Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper East Regional Minister, said the achievements of the graduates did not only reflect their personal successes but also spoke volumes of their lecturers, parents and guardians as their invaluable contributions made the graduation a reality.
GNA