Otumfuo Confers 221 PhDs at 59th KNUST Congregation
The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has conferred 221 Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (PhD) in various programmes to graduands.
These degrees were conferred during the 59th Congregation held on November 29, 2025.
Of the 221 postgraduates with PhDs, 66 were females.
They formed part of 17,132 made up of 14,764 undergraduates and 2,368 postgraduates who passed out of the institution in this year’s congregation.
Present at the ceremony were Nananom, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Chancellor Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, Chairman of Governing Board Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, Ashanti Regional Minister Frank Amoakohene, and others.
Impact Humanity
In a message to the graduands, Otumfuo counselled the graduands to touch humanity with their acquired knowledge.
His Majesty affirmed that the true measure of education lies not in personal gain alone but in the light one brings into the lives of others.
He therefore charged them: “As you step into the wider world, let innovation guide your ideas, integrity anchor your actions and compassion shape your leadership…Let us embrace the opportunities of this new age by safeguarding the dignity and destiny of humankind. Go forth therefore and let your lives be a living testimony to the greatness of KNUST.”
Meaning of Higher Degree
For her part, the Vice President of Ghana, HE Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, reminded them that a higher degree carries along expectation.
The expectation, she said, is to lead enquiry and apply their intellect to complex problems.
“The real value of your degree may not even be evident today, but it will be seen over time in the institutions you strengthen, the young people you mentor, the policies you help refine and the knowledge you leave behind. As a nation, we look to you not necessarily for easy answers but for better questions, sharper tools and deeper insights.”
Challenges
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST prepared them for the challenges ahead, noting that the challenges would refine them.
“Do not be shocked by the many rovers you must cross. Challenges and difficulties may not be tasty in the moment, but they forge a strength and character that an easy path may never give you “
Prof Dickson also urged them to confront the world with courage, purpose and compassion.
She added, “Continue to reimagine yourself and your career and always ask on a daily basis, ‘what could I have achieved if I were not afraid’ and boldly take on your world. Do not underestimate the power of starting small, even if the prospects of the job interview look high. Grow and nurture your resilience and always remember that giving up can never be an option.”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
