The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has held its second Commencement Lecture to usher in the 2021/22 academic year with a call on Management of the University to make its teaching and research programmes relevant in the mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Authority, (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu who made the call, was delivering a lecture as the guest speaker at the event. It was on the theme: ‘Securing the Environment-The role of the University in mitigating climate change’.
The lecture was attended by Management and Members of the University community and the newly admitted students of the institution. It was also attended by representatives of the security services in the Municipality, officials of the CSIR, EPA as well as some traditional leaders of the Lower Manya Municipality.
Dr. Kokofu who is also the former MP for Bantama in the Ashanti Region said, the EPA and the UESD have a similar mandate to protect the environment and that makes both institutions natural partners in the management of Ghana’s environment reserves. He urged Management of the University to tap into the indigenous knowledge of the community the University finds itself to protect and safeguard the environment.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UESD, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson in a welcome address reiterated that Commencement activities are the University’s way of ushering in the Academic Year. He explained that at Commencement Lectures, ‘we stimulate the mind of the nation with thought provoking issues that emanate from our mandate as a University, and are presented by persons within the environment sphere’.
He said, the theme chosen for this year’s event, Securing the Environment-The role of the University in mitigating climate change, demonstrates the University’s resolve to weave industry into academia.
He indicated that in its efforts to ‘send the gown to town’ to help improve upon the life of the University’s immediate environment,’ it has collaborated with institutions like the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, ISSER to organise a workshop for farmers on climate change.
Also, some members of faculty have made publications on the outcome of COP 26 held in Glasgow in 2021 which have received wide publication by local and international media. They have also taken part in activities such as the World Environment Day and tree planting exercises on campus. All these actions, the Vice-Chancellor said, are proof that as an institution, the UESD has taken a stance in efforts to mitigate climate change.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson expressed the hope that the Commencement Lecture would prick the conscience of individuals and institutions at the helm of environmental related issues and work together to meet the SDGs.
The Executive Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR)Prof. Victor Kwame Agyemang, was the guest of honour. He told the freshers that it is not the course one does at a University that guarantees their success. He said, success goes beyond University Education and one’s background, and as students, there is the need for them to prepare to grab opportunities that will come their way.
Prof. Agyemeng extoled the core values of the University, H.O.P.E which stands for Honesty, Opportunity, Perseverance and Enterprising and adviced the students to let that be their guiding principle.
He also counselled them to build networks with their colleagues as this will help determine their future direction.
To the Lecturers, Prof. Agyemeng reminded them Lecturers of the competitive nature of the academic environment and urged them to be innovative. Adding that, there is no room for complacency, He further emphasised that there is bound to be disappointments in publications and proposal writing, and that if they encounter such challenges, they should persevere.
The Chairman for the Commencement Lecture and UESD Council Chairman, Prof. Jonathan Narh Ayertey was full of praise to the guest speakers for the issues espoused during their presentation. He challenged the Dean of Students to organise debates and discussion groups among the students to discuss the insightful issues that were raised at the lecture.
The Lecture was facilitated by the Registrar of the University, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong.
A thanksgiving Service was held on Sunday, 16th January, 2022 to round up the Commencement Lecture activities.
Students Orientation:
Over the week, the freshers were taken through a four-day orientation to enable them to familiarise themselves with the mission, vision, core values as well as the rules and regulations of the University. The resource persons were drawn from the various Departments and Units of the University. They were addressed by the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, the Deans of the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, SNES, P and the Dean of Students. The freshers were hosted a tea party by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyarko-Sampson at his residence to climax the weekday orientation.
Meanwhile admissions into the University have been extended to the 31 of January, 2022