The University for Development Studies has held the 2022 April Congregation ceremony for students who completed various programmes of study from the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the Faculty of Sustainable Development, and the Faculty of Education, at the Multipurpose Auditorium on the Tamale Campus. A total number of 562 graduate and undergraduate students were graduated.

In his introductory remarks, while declaring the Congregation duly constituted for the conferment of degrees, the Chairman of the University Governing Council, Professor Wayo Seini stated that the Management of the University is committed to expanding infrastructure in order to make university education accessible to as many people as possible.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye highlighted developments within the University since the last congregation which was held in November last year. He indicated that as part of measures to help bridge the infrastructure deficit and improve access to quality university education, the UDS is establishing an endowment fund, the UDSEF, to provide additional funds to complement government’s efforts to ensure that the University delivers its mandate. He said the endowment fund will support scholarships for needy and talented students, support infrastructural development and research activities in the University.

Addressing the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor advised them not to relent in seeking knowledge as acquisition of knowledge does not end with their graduation. He admonished them to use the knowledge acquired to make significant changes in their respective lives and in the society as a whole.

It is a tradition at the University for Development Studies for one of the best graduating students at a congregation ceremony to deliver a valedictory speech on behalf of the graduating class. On the occasion of the April 2022 Congregation, that honor fell on the shoulders of Dr. Afishata Mohammed Abujaja., a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science Education, Faculty of Education, of the University for Development Studies, who had also enrolled for a PhD programme in the same university. Dr. Afishata Mohammed Abujaja, on behalf of the graduands, expressed gratitude to the university for helping them to achieve their goals. She recounted some of the fun and memorable moments they had as students and also spent some time enumerated some of the challenges faced. She congratulated the management of the University for conceiving the idea to establish the UDS endowment fund in order to make university education more accessible to brilliant but needy students.

The Guest Speaker at the ceremony, A Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, pledged to support the University as it had begun the process of establishing an endowment fund to support infrastructural development on campus as well as support brilliant but needy students to access university education.  Rev. Ntim Fordjour advised the Graduands, especially undergraduate graduands, to get ahead of change by refusing to be complacent with the first degrees and diplomas they have obtained. He said the only way to get ahead of change is by constantly improving oneself.

In attendance were Members of the University’s’ Governing Council, the Pro- Vice Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Felix Abagale, the Principal of the Nyankpala campus, Prof. George Nyarko, Senior and Junior Members of the University community, representatives from other Universities, a representative from the office of the Vice-Chancellors Ghana, a representative from the palace of the Chief of Sagnarigu and a representative from the Ambariya Sunni Muslim community, as well as well-wishers of the graduands.

Among the graduating students, was the University for Development Studies’ Director of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Hardi Shaibu. He graduated with a PhD in Social Administration.