By Rachel Quartey and Rukayatu Musah
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on graduates of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) to place purpose, integrity, and sustainability at the core of their work.
Speaking at UENR’s 10th Congregation Ceremony, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that Ghana’s development depends not only on technical skills, but on ethical, people-centred solutions. “Innovation must be designed for the long term, focusing on technologies that are affordable, fair, and environmentally responsible,” she said, urging graduates to collaborate across disciplines, sectors, and communities.
She praised faculty, researchers, parents, and industry partners for shaping responsible leaders, while calling on the private sector to invest in research, incubators, and innovation hubs. “Ghana needs your skills, creativity, and commitment to service to build a sustainable and prosperous future,” she charged the Class of 2025, encouraging them to move forward with confidence, courage, and humility.
Established in 2011, UENR has grown into a national centre for energy and natural resources education, research, and management, with campuses in Sunyani and Dormaa Ahenkro. The university operates nine schools and several specialised research centres, training scientists and technologists for Ghana and beyond.
Ing. Maximilian Kwarteng, Deputy Director of the Renewable Energy Department at Bui Power Authority, urged graduates to become change-makers in Ghana’s energy sector, highlighting their technologist mindset as critical for climate resilience and achieving the goals of the Ghana Energy Compact.
Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu, Chairman of the UENR Governing Council and Dormaahene, encouraged graduates to uphold excellence, innovation, and sustainability. He emphasized that UENR’s motto, “Excellence in Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” is a call to action for graduates to innovate responsibly and contribute to sustainable development.
Highlighting the university’s reputation for applied research and interdisciplinary learning, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II praised its focus on energy, natural resources, and technology as key to addressing local and global challenges. He also commended UENR’s commitment to diversity and equitable access, particularly efforts to increase female enrollment and support underrepresented students, noting that diversity drives innovation and sustainable solutions.
In his message to the graduates, he encouraged them to be bold, resilient, and guided by integrity, reminding them that true excellence is measured by the impact they make in the lives of others. Quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, he added, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” expressing confidence that UENR graduates are ready to become agents of positive change.
The Best Graduating Student, Jennifer Addae, expressed gratitude for the support she received throughout her academic journey and urged her colleagues to “remain bold, resilient, and committed to using knowledge to innovate, solve problems, and impact society.”
