Sunyani-Ghana, April 2, GNA – The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Saturday awarded 2,218 persons with diplomas, first and postgraduate degrees after successfully completing their programmes of study at its Seventh Congregation in Sunyani.
The number comprised 688 from the School of Sciences, 408 from School of Engineering, 386, School of Natural Resources, 284, School of Arts and Social Sciences, 107, School of Agriculture and Technology, and 88 from the School of Geosciences.
The recipients of the postgraduate degrees were 157, including 11 doctorates (PhDs), Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the UENR announced.
Personalities present included
Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, and Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, the Chair of the Governing Council of the University
The VC said the university was making frantic efforts to promote well-deserved staff and that five senior members had been promoted to the grade of Associate Professors.
He said being a growing university, it was bound to face challenges such as inadequate lecture halls, insufficient laboratories and laboratory equipment, and insufficient hostel accommodation for students and staff.
Others are financial and office space constraints, transportation and health facility challenges.
Prof. Asare-Bediako, however, said irrespective of those challenges, the university had made great strides by improving campus internet connectivity through the Government’s implementation of the Campus Network project.
It had further received funding from the Jospong Group of Companies, Environmental Sanitation Research Fund, together with 12 other universities and research institutions across the country to research into waste management.
Another success, the VC said, was the selection of the university under the funding of DANIDA, to partner with other universities in Denmark, Kenya and Uganda to conduct research into insect farming for a healthy life.
He urged the graduands to impact the world by working with “their heads, hearts and hands” and straighten every twist and turn to leave a mark.
”You must build integrity through hard work, honesty and excellent human relations, there will be challenges and unforeseen problems along the way, but as you navigate the challenges remember the lessons that you have learned,” he advised.
Prof. Asare-Bediako encouraged them to conduct research and work tirelessly to open closed doors and be sources of light to their communities.
Mr Prince Yeboah, from the School of Natural Resources, won the VC’s Overall Best Graduating Student prize as well as the Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West award for the best student.
He received a brand-new Laptop and a cheque for GhC5,000.00.
