Otumfuo Launches “KNUST Day Of Giving” To Climax 70th Anniversary Celebration

The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has launched a charity project in drawing the curtain on the institution’s 70th anniversary celebration.

The project is dubbed “KNUST Day Of Giving” and will be observed on the sixth day of the 10th month of every year beginning this year.

According to the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, the day will be observed as the birthday of KNUST.

It was launched on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Great Hall of the KNUST while the institution undertook its 56th Congregation and marked the end of the year-long 70th anniversary celebration which was launched in 2021.

KNUST Day Of Giving
Launching the project, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that the charity programme was to enable the institution further its numerous initiatives as proceeds generated will be invested in “furtherance of the mandate entrusted to KNUST”.

“On the 6th of October every year beginning this year, the University is instituting a project dubbed KNUST Day Of Giving. It is a day set aside for alumni, KNUST students, Corporate bodies, friends and all well-wishers of the University to give back to the University”, he said.

The donations will be made through a yet-to-be-established electronic platform.

Prof Dickson in her speech said 6th of October each year will be devoted to celebrating KNUST’s birthday and will be celebrated by giving donations “as low as ¢1, $1, £1, €1 up to however much one widow’s mite would permit”.

She explained that “every donor automatically becomes a member of the accounts team monitoring the inflow of donations in that as soon as your ¢1 and $1 hit the account, you will see the balance. If the balance does not look appealing and befitting of this great University, one would always be welcome to top up.”

His Majesty urged students and alumni to patronise the initiative as a way of showing appreciation to the school.

“For many of us, but for KNUST we would not have been here today. It is therefore a time to appreciate KNUST… As you step into the world today, remember that your alma mater and support the University that nurtured you.”

He also appealed to corporate bodies and well-wishers to keep the date in mind and make a “substantial donation to a deserving course”.

He finally promised to monitor the initiative.

Climax Of 70th Anniversary Celebration
The 70th anniversary celebration was launched on October 27, 2021, by the Chancellor with the theme, “70 Years of Global Impact, A New Age For A Renewed Force”.

Numerous activities were organised by the institution to mark the milestone including discussions with captains of industries and a 4-day Science and Technology Exhibition.

A mace was also designed by the Faculty of Arts, the Department of Painting and Sculpture led by Professor Edwin Kwesi Bodjawah for the anniversary, the Vice Chancellor disclosed and noted it will be added to the store of artefacts in the University museum.

While drawing the curtain on the celebration, the King acknowledged the efforts and contributions of past and present Vice Chancellors, staff and students.

“{I appreciate past and present Vice Chancellors} for their commitment to our noble mission, their intense passion and leadership. I also thank the tireless staff as well as the tenacious students who are willing to overcome any obstacle to create better lives for themselves and their families. 70 years in the life of an institution is not a mean achievement. We started with a few, now we are many; not only in numbers but in talents and creativity.

“Our founding fathers began this institution with 200 students and just two programmes. 70 years down the line the student population stands at over 85,000 with hundreds of talent-driven creative programmes. What can we say? Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has brought us and we are indeed grateful for his bounty mercies.”

He also thanked the government of Ghana for its significant contributions to the University’s infrastructure and holistic development in the past 70 years and more.

On her part, Prof Dickson said, “We look forward to another milestone of 70 years of renewed energy and impeccable focus as we leverage on our collective strength to move our great august and noble University to another level of eminence.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini