REGENT UNIVERSITY’S DAY OF GLORY: PREMIER GRADUATION CEREMONY
Regent University College of Science and Technology was blessed on the 26th of April, 2008 with the presence of the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Chief Justice, Hon. S.K. Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Deputy Minister of Greater Accra Region, Hon. Theresa Tagoe, other government officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, MPs as well as business leaders. The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Mr. J. A. Kufuor was the Special Guest Speaker while the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood was the Guest of Honor. This was during the first graduation ceremony of the Regent University College.
Regent-Ghana which started in 2005 with about 35 students at the Trinity Campus at Mataheko near Club Corner Spot has a current population of over 1500 students spread over four (4) campuses – Trinity at Mataheko, Adom at Dansoman Roundabout, King’s at Dansoman off the Keep Fit Club and Roquah at Lartebiokoshie.
In an interview with the President and CEO of RUCST, Rev. Professor E. Kingsley Larbi, at the King’s Campus which also serves as the Corporate Headquarters, prior to the big day, he said the growth of the College can only be attributed to God’s grace and hard work. RUCST, as an institution with the motive of building the human resource capacity of Ghana has single-handedly sponsored over 60 students to the tune of GH¢110,000 to pursue further studies.
The President, His Excellency Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor lauded the contribution of private universities in the training of the country’s human resource. He stated that the congenial atmosphere needed for the country’s private sector to take off had been created and that the contribution of that sector to National development can not be over emphasized, in that the public sector and the state can not shoulder the responsibility alone hence the need to encourage partners like Regent University College.
The President said the steady influx of reputed foreign investors into the mining, banking, agricultural and lately energy sectors and the increasing number of local investors are clear indications of positive response of the private sector to government’s policies.
He said the link between education and national development is more than established, adding that across the globe, wherever there is growth, there is evidence of wider access to education, low drop-out rate and relatively high percentage of population at tertiary level.
President Kufuor said it was highly encouraging that the Regent University College had chosen to focus on science and technology education in spite of the capital intensity associated with running such courses and congratulated the founders of the University for such a Bold Initiative.
The President said the initiative was in consonance with the new education reforms which also has science and technology/ICT as its focus. He further urged the University College to live by good corporate governance principles and ensure that best practices are their guiding mantra.
President Kufour later commended the students for successfully completing their education and urged them not to rest on their oars but pursue further to ensure that they become responsible future leaders. He encouraged them to “ become entrepreneurial like those who trained them”.
For his part, Prof. Kingsley Kwabena Larbi said the University recognizes higher education as a national asset and is making every effort to work in collaboration with industry, employers, government, research institutions, as well as other academic and professional institutions. He said that if the necessary support is given to the private tertiary institution, they can perform excellently and give a real boost to higher education in the country.
He also mentioned that the University had commenced Master of Business Administration programs. It is the only MBA program being run in Ghana with Association of MBA’s (AMBA) status and this is in collaboration with Maastricht School of management in Netherlands.
The occasion was also used to honor some deserving lecturers, staff and students for their outstanding work and performance. Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu, Senior Robotics Engineer and Technical group leader at the NASA-Jet propulsion laboratory at the California Institute of Technology was also honoured for his contribution to spacecraft rover and other outstanding science exploits.
The overall best student prize went to Marigold Afua Asantewaa Ampadu. She was awarded a full scholarship to read the Regent-Maastricht AMBA accredited MBA, a cash prize of GH¢ 300, a laptop and sets of books.
The President, Mr Agyekum Kufour, The President and CEO of RUCST and other dignitaries were conducted round the King’s Campus of the University College which also serves as the Corporate Head office. At the King’s Campus, President Kufour had a video conference with Dr. Ashitey Trebi Ollenu in the USA through which he gave his acceptance message on the Honorary Fellowship Award of Regent-Ghana. President Kufour encouraged him to keep the flag of Ghana flying high and said Ghana was proud of him and that he was a role model to the youth of Ghana.
In all 61 students graduated with BSc Honours in Accounting and Information System and Management with computing. |
