Otumfuo Confers PhD Degrees On 124 KNUST Students
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees have been conferred on 124 students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the 56th Congregation of the institution by the Chancellor, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The 56th Congregation- which was virtual and in-person- began on Tuesday, March 14 and is scheduled to end on Saturday, March 18.
The Congregation held at the Great Hall of the KNUST on Friday, March 17, 2023, saw 776 postgraduate students pass out- 124 PhD students and 652 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students.
Among the PhD students were 31 females including the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko.
Two students Mr Zakaria Mohammed Isudeen of the Department of Electrical and Electronic College Engineering (CWA of 87.04) and Shalom Ablavi of the Department of Languages and Communication Sciences, College of Humanity and Social Sciences (CWA of 84.61) were adjudged the best students.
The Chancellor who is also the King of the Asante Kingdom officiated the Congregation for the PhD classes.
Present were the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, Deputy Minister for Education, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akufo Dampare and Municipal chief of Oforikrom, Abraham Kwame Antwi and many high profile Ghanaians.
Call For Curriculum Modification
“Our graduands have acquired the needed knowledge and skills for them to contribute their quota to national development, however, job vacancies might not be readily available. Many graduates are struggling to find jobs after their national service and each year, the situation gets worse”, Otumfuo raised concerns as he addressed the convocation.
He, therefore, urged Universities in the country to make reformations in the curriculum to nurture students to set up their businesses and employ others after school as the government payroll appears “choked’’.
“Stakeholders have at various times faulted the knowledge-base education system for the rising rate of graduate unemployment and urged higher education institutions to prioritize equipping students with the necessary employability skills to succeed in the labour market. Universities, therefore, need to include business development and Career Counselling in their curriculum to produce well-rounded graduates who can hire others and start their own businesses.”
On that note, he applauded the Kumasi Business Incubator Project and the Career Services Centre initiative of the KNUST and the Entrepreneurship Development Fund initiative- established by the Students Representative Council (SRC) in collaboration with the University Management to support student entrepreneurs.
The Kumasi Business Incubator Project and the Career Services Centre, he said, guide graduates to create, innovate and develop abilities that have been established
He referenced some products of the Centre including Matias Charles who recently won the Prototype Humanity Award worth US$25,000 in Dubai in 2022 and Emmanuel Kwadwo Nimoh who is able to convert plastic wastes into diesel and petrol.
He added, “These few examples attest to the fact that when our youth are given the relevant training and skills, they can fend for themselves.”
The Deputy Minister for Education, Rev Ntim Fordjour urged the institution and management to rise to the new challenge and embark on human capital development to meet the fast-changing world and drive Ghana’s rapid socioeconomic progress.
Messages To Graduands
The graduands were given words of encouragement and advice by both the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
In his address, the King counselled them to be strategic and be guided by discipline, dedication, commitment and diligence.
“As you go into the world, be humble and graceful enough to start from somewhere. Be strategic in your dealings and be serviceable yet firm in your interactions. Let this popular expression guide and keep you on your toes. Nothing is permanent. Do not stress yourself too much because no matter how bad the situation is, it will change. Remember that the effort needed to lift yourself from the ground is not instant. It requires discipline, dedication, commitment and diligence.”
Prof Dickson also urged them remain lifelong learners and look for avenues to add value to themselves and make positive impacts on lives.
She further set the record straight about the inevitability of challenges and advised, “always remember that it takes prayer, hard work, resilience, dedication, enthusiasm and sacrifice in order to surmount them”.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
