The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, has challenged graduates of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to explore and use the knowledge acquired to create innovations to benefit society.
“You are the hope of this nation. Do not allow circumstances to limit your potential. With determination, you can achieve more than you imagine,” he counseled.
The Vice-Chancellor advised the graduands not to succumb to circumstances to cut short their dreams but encouraged them to be determined in life.
The Vice-Chancellor was addressing the first, second, third and fourth sessions of the 55th Congregation held for the Colleges of Humanities and Legal Studies, Health and Allied Sciences, Education Studies and Agriculture and Natural Sciences.
Statistics
A total of 5,224 students graduated from the aforementioned colleges from the first to fourth sessions of the 55th Congregation.
Out of the number, 1,835 were from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS) and 956 from the College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS).
Whilst the College of Education Studies had 1,318 students, the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences presented 1,115 students for graduation.
Students’ Accommodation
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that management of the University was making efforts to put up a befitting students' residential facilities.
Prof. Boampong admitted that the "University does not have enough residential facilities to accommodate all the students " and added that most of the students were accommodated in private hostels around campus and within the surrounding communities.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that management had signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with several private companies to provide residential facilities on campus, but to no avail.
It was against this backdrop that he said management would take the bull by the horns to build students' residential facilities on campus.
“We cannot sit aloof and allow the situation to continue. Therefore, the University will explore all avenues to ensure that we build befitting residential facilities for our cherished students,” he added.
Infrastructural Projects
Highlighting on infrastructural projects, Prof. Boampong mentioned that the University was constructing a number structures on campus and these included the Phase One of the Multipurpose Complex for College of Health and Allied Sciences, Academic Office Complex for College of Education Studies and College of Humanities and Legal Studies; Science Annex Building, Institutional Affiliation Office Complex, Phase One of Africa Centre in Coastal Resilience (ACeCoR) Building Complex.
He mentioned the asphalting of roads on campus which had enhanced the University’s beautiful green campus.
Internationalisation
Speaking further, Prof. Boampong added that UCC was collaborating with numerous institutions across the globe to achieve its goals of achieving huge visibility.
Prof. Boampong announced that the University had identified new strategic partners for academic collaboration. One of such collaboration is the agreement between UCC and some institutions of higher learning in India to institute a scholarship scheme for students from India to UCC and vice-versa.
Prof. Boampong said UCC was determined to protect its lands from further encroachment to preserve the University for prosperity. “UCC is the major institution that has brought unprecedented economic growth and honour to Cape Coast Metropolis and by extension the Central Region of Ghana,” he stressed.
Turn Challenges to Opportunities
The Chairman of UCC Governing Council, Prof. Obeng Mireku, commended the graduands for their perseverance and urged them to turn challenges that would come their ways into opportunities.
He reminded them that discipline was key to their success in life.
Prof. Mireku, therefore, admonished them to let discipline be their guiding principle and advised them to be good ambassadors of the University.
Valedictorians
The following students were the valedictorians for the first to fourth sessions of the 55th Congregation:
Ms. Emmanuella Obike (College of Health and Allied Sciences, CGPA 3.879)
Courage Nukpetsi (College of Education Studies, CGPA 3.943)
Emmanuel Mawuli Atitso (College of Humanities and Legal Studies, CGPA 3.976)
Daniel Agyei Asante (College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, 3.976)
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Source: Documentation & Information Section