The University for Development Studies (UDS) has held its 26th Congregation, marking another major milestone in its mission to train development-oriented graduates for the nation.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice Chancellor of UDS said the congregation was not just a ceremony, but “a powerful moment of transformation” for the thousands of students stepping into new phases of their lives.
A total of 7,870 students graduated this year. The Vice Chancellor noted that through targeted scholarship initiatives, the university has significantly narrowed the gender gap over the years.
He highlighted UDS’s strong reputation for academic excellence, stating that the institution remains number one in quality teaching, supported by a series of major infrastructure achievements. These include the Twin Auditorium, the Resource Centre, the Health Sciences Laboratory, and a new 500-bed hostel facility for the Nyankpala Campus.
He expressed gratitude to the President for facilitating the passage of the UDS Studies Act and said the university is focused on completing the Yendi Campus project.
To the graduates, the Vice Chancellor advised that beyond certificates, the world will judge them by their character, ethics and conduct. He urged them to carry the UDS spirit with them — to serve, to lead, and to change the world.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the President, the Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Abdulai Imoro Gong, praised UDS for fulfilling and even surpassing the vision that led to its establishment.
He recalled that before UDS was created, tertiary education in Ghana was largely concentrated in the south, leaving families in the northern parts at a disadvantage due to distance, cost and deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities.
He said UDS changed that narrative, bringing hope and opportunity to households that once believed university education was beyond their reach. Beyond awarding degrees, he added, the university has become one of Ghana’s most dependable sources of human capital and intellectual leadership, with successive governments drawing on its pool of competent, ethical and development-minded graduates.
Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku
