The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), received the Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum and his entourage to campus on 26th April, 2024, as part of his pastoral visit to St. Peter’s Parish, Somanya.
Among the welcoming party were the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Wiafe Debrah and the Registrar, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong.
The Bishop’s visit commenced with a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and other Management members. The Vice-Chancellor, expressed excitement about the Bishop’s visit and his keen interest in the activities of the University. He briefed him about some activities and milestones chalked by the University including the successful promulgation of the University Statutes, launch of its Five-Year Strategic Plan and its Community Development Challenge which is targeted at young children in schools and communities.
He explained that the idea is to sensitize the young children at their formative years, so that once they recognise the need for environment sustainability, they can hold onto it as a way of life.
This year’s challenge is centred on Sustainable Development Goal 12 dubbed “Responsible Consumption,” targeting Senior High Schools and shortlisting thirty (30) students in the grand finale slated for June 14, 2024 at UESD Auditorium, Multi-Purpose Building.
The Registrar, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong also gave a brief overview of the University’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. She indicating its readiness to collaborate with the Diocese on any of the thematic areas stipulated in the Strategic Plan.
Following the meeting, Most Rev. Afrifah-Agyekum and his entourage proceeded to meet with the Management and students of UESD at Auditorium, Multipurpose Building. He commended the University’s efforts of involving the community in its activities as evidenced in the University’s Community Based Experiential Learning (CoBEL) programme organized annually.
Most Rev. Afrifah-Agyekum said, the impact the CoBEL has on the various communities is far reaching especially, in relation to the fight for sustained environment. He said, as students get to learn at first hand the ways of the community folks, they also at the end help proffer pragmatic suggestions good to solve the challenges in the communities.
The Bishop said, he believes this is what the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis meant when he said that, “the Shepherd is to ensure that he smells like the sheep he is heading at all times.’’
The staff members particularly faculty should continue to ‘’smell like their sheep’’ by imparting fully their knowledge in the students, and the students in turn should also smell like their sheep by serving as crusaders who would work tirelessly to ensure that the protection, security, development and sustainability of the environment.
The Bishop’s visit was crowned with the planting of trees in front of the administration block, symbolising the relationship between the University and the Koforidua Diocese.
