By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), Dr Benjamin Kunbuor says the vision of resetting Ghana and building the nation we desire can only be achieved through sustained investment in education, human capital development, innovation, and research.
He made the observation at the 2nd Congregation of the School of Law and Special Graduation of the School of Graduate Studies of UBIDS at Bamahu in Wa.
Dr Kunbuor indicated that the government’s commitment to educational transformation and its vision of building a prosperous, inclusive, and democratic society founded on freedom, justice, opportunity, and shared prosperity is encouraging, stating that UBIDS is a critical a partner in the realisation of this national aspiration.
The ceremony saw 368 students graduate. Of these, 70 were from the School of Law, while the remaining 298 were postgraduate students, including eight PhD graduates.
Dr Kunbuor stated that UBIDS is committed to producing graduates who are not only professionally competent but also guided by integrity, ethical conduct, patriotism, and service to society and reiterated that the Governing Council will provide strategic leadership for the University to deliver.
He said: “I affirm our unwavering commitment to providing strategic leadership and oversight to ensure the continued growth and success of UBIDS. We shall continue to support initiatives that promote academic excellence, research, innovation, institutional integrity, inclusiveness, and community engagement.”
“As we celebrate today’s achievements, let us also recommit ourselves to the shared responsibility of building a stronger university, a stronger region, and a stronger Ghana,” Dr. Kunbuor stated.
The Vice Chancellor of UBIDS, Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile commented on the waves the School of Law is making, saying “Although the UBIDS School of Law is relatively young, it has already established a distinguished reputation through the exceptional quality of its instruction, the intellectual rigour of its professional training, and the outstanding calibre of its students.”
He continued that “Our maiden batch of LLB graduates who graduated last academic year, exactly a year now, graced the School of Law and the University with a sterling performance at the Law School Entrance Examinations (popularly known as the Makola entrance examinations) as debutants, to the admiration of industry players in the legal fraternity.”
Professor Derbile said, “Out of a total of 42 LLB graduates who took the professional Ghana School of Law entrance examinations, 28 representing 67%, passed and are currently in Part I of the Professional Law training course at the Ghana School of Law.Today’s occasion marks the second time that a university in northern Ghana, 67 years after independence, is awarding Bachelor of Law (LLB) degrees to deserving graduands. This historic significance of the UBIDS School of Law can therefore never be over-emphasised.”
The Vice Chancellor told the gathering that “At this 2nd Special Congregation, a total of 70 students are graduating from the School of Law, comprising 61 males (87%) and 9 females (13%). Last year, a total of 63 students graduated from the School of Law. This puts the total number of LLB graduates churned out by UBIDS School of Law at 133.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin who was the guest of honour, said in spite of the challenges UBIDS has to contend with, it is a blessing to society and dwelt on efforts to start new schools and faculties.
Mr. Bagbin told the congregation that: “In my eagerness to ensure the timely establishment of the medical school, I have been assisting in equipping the Upper West Regional Hospital to qualify it for the status of a teaching hospital. As I speak to you now, six brand new dialysis machines with the necessary supporting logistics and consumables will be installed this year at the hospital through my efforts and support of the members of parliament of this region. We acquired them using our own resources.”
The Speaker announced that he has also initiated a partnership between UBIDS and the Medical University of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aimed at opening up a medical school to lead the university to train critical health personnel for the Upper West Region and beyond.
Mr. Bagbin pointed out that as a result of the move, he led a team made up of the President of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, the Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the MP for Lambussie Professor Titus Beyuo, the Provost of the Ghana Medical School, Korle Bu, and many others to the Medical University of Ajman, UAE to sign a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the medical school.
Miss Stella Akabura was adjudged the best female graduating student, while Roger Yelkumwin Zolko-Ere emerging as the Valedictorian.
The Chief of Daung, Kuoro Sumaila Tambogikuon known in private life as Sumaila Tabiasi-Naa was among those who graduated with Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
