The Estates Department of the University for Development Studies on May 11, 2023 organized a one-day workshop to build the capacities of junior staff labourers and gardeners. The event, which came off at the WPD conference room at the Central Administration Block, forms part of a series of training activities intended to build the ccompetence and confidence of all category of staff.

In his welcome address, the head of training and development, Mr. Abdul-Mumin Alhassan, said the training is forms part of efforts aimed at achieving the Vice Chancellor's vision to beautify all campuses belonging to the University.

Leading a session on “Modern Garden System and Safety Compliance”, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Professor Abdul-Halim Abubakari took participants through the rudiments of modern gardening and landscape systems, focusing on nursery plant management, field establishment, maintenance of established plants and safety compliance.

Professor Abdul-Halim Abubakari urged the participants to use standard plant materials for the establishment of gardens and to always abide by general lawn safety. He admonished participants to see the training as a means to empower them economically, since the skills acquired on the occasion, can be used to generate revenue at the individual level. He cautioned them against using chemicals that are destructive to both humans and the environment. He took the participants through basic knowledge on classes and categories of chemicals as well as what to do in emergency situations. He stressed the need for safety compliance in modern gardening systems and the need to abide by the protocols at all times.

Leading the practical session, Mr. Samuel Acquah, The Tamale Campus Estates Officer, took participants through the “step-by-step” processes of “Morden Gardening Systems” for aesthetic purposes. During this session, participants moved from the conference room, to the field.

Later, together with all the facilitators, visits were made to gardens and lawns within the precincts of the university and some offices that have flower pots.

After the practical session, participants went back to the conference room where they were taken through further training on “Attitudinal Change for Improved Productivity, Work and Organizational Ethics and Communication within the University System”.

The Head of Estates, Surveyor Sampson Nyamalor, noted that Management requires a certain level of productivity from the labourers and gardeners, and therefore, it is necessary to equip them for the tasks so that they can be held accountable for their responsibilities. He expressed his happiness with the cooperation of the staff and thanked Management for making the training possible.

Other facilitators at the training were Dr. Iddrisu M. Tanko, a Deputy Registrar and Mr. Thomas A. Azure, Head of Human Resource.

Story by: Sumaila Mohammed and Hamdan Amadu Wumpeka (University Relations)