By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Pro Vice Chancellor of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, says “the biggest threat to our sustainability is lack of visionary leadership rather than the lack of resources”.
He has therefore challenged Ghanaians to offer visionary and strategic leadership to help bring about the desired changes in our localities.
Prof. Derbile made the observation at the climax of the 50th Anniversary of St. Basilide’s Technical Institute at Kaleo in the Upper West Region.
Prof. Derbile praised the Brothers of the Immaculate Conception (FIC) of the Wa Catholic Diocese for their foresight in establishing the Institute in 1973 for skill training that is required for the development of Upper West and charged the school to be responsive to global trends.
He said: “If St. Basilide’s Technical Institute is to sustaesnd provide holistic and relevant education for its students, it must be dynamic and responsive to global trends.”
The Institute currently has one thousand, one hundred and eighty-five (1,185) students made up of 920 males and two hundred and sixty-five (265) females with 92 staff comprising fifty-five (55) teaching and thirty-three (33) non-teaching staff.
The Principal of St. Basilide’s Technical Institute, Rev. Brother Fabian Bezel, mentioned inadequate classrooms and furniture, lack of a library and a fence wall, obsolete workshop equipment, and insufficient foodstuffs, among others, as challenges facing the school and asked for support.
The Director-General for Ghana Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, Madam Mawusi Nudekor Awity, in a speech read for her piad tribute to the school for being at the forefront in providing practical skills and knowledge to equip our youth for a fast-developing world.
She said the Institute has the additional advantage of nurturing well-rounded individuals who possess not only technical proficiency but also a strong moral compass, critical thinking skills, and a passion for life-long learning.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nadowli-Kaleo, Madam Katherine Lankono, stated that the mismatch between the skills that businesses demand and the abilities that job seekers possess creates a skill gap, which leads to unemployment and poor livelihoods, and said TVET remains our best bet if we want to fight against poverty as a nation.
The Member of Parliament for Nadowli-Kaleo, Anthony Nwinkaara Sumah, donated 10,000 Cedis to the School.
The cadet corps of the school put on a spectacular performance to spice up the event.
Some deserving personalities were honoured for their contributions to St. Basilide’s Technical Institute.
