Thursday, 28 March

Embrace change: Wisconsin University President to graduates

Education
Graduation ceremony

The President of the Wisconsin International University College, Professor Obeng Mireku, has charged the graduating students of 2020 to embrace change in order to stay ahead in their individual journeys.

He gave the charge at the university’s 13th Congregation on Saturday, 28 November 2020 on the theme: ‘Impacting Development in Ghana and Beyond: the role of Wisconsin International University College over the past two decades’.

Addressing the graduating class, Professor Obeng Mireku noted that despite the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of lessons have also been learnt, key among them being the need for change.

He, thus, encouraged the students to be dynamic, as they enter the job market.

He said: “We may have done our best to prepare you for the future, however, there are some things you can only learn at the proverbial university of life – the real world out there”.

“Although not out of the woods yet, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus put us to the test and I can daresay with confidence that WIUC has passed the test. With the strategy to stay ahead of the virus, we improvised and innovated creative ways of containing the pandemic.”

He added: “A major lesson, which the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that we are living not in a static but a dynamic world. Every now and then, we are constantly being confronted with and pursued by change. We need to come to terms with change, be abreast with change and move along with change otherwise change will leave us behind. Change is inevitable, therefore, my dear graduands, embrace change and keep going.”

The Chancellor of the university, Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, for his part, urged the graduands to be innovative in their thinking in order to challenge the status quo.

He said: “Now, brothers and sisters, you are young ones coming for the future of this country, for the future of Africa and future of the whole world…I encourage you to come up with new ideologies, new governance that can govern this country, Africa and other places. You can, because you have the ideas, young ideas. You have been blessed with opportunities, talents and privileges. You have education. Let us not sit on the old system but rather come up with a new system that will help us to rule our country and I am telling you, you will make our country better than the foreign ideas being imposed on us in Africa here today.”

The overall best graduating student, Henry Adda, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, for their immense contribution to their academic journey.

In all, 1,027 students graduated with diplomas, undergraduate certificates and postgraduate certificates.

Some 107 students walked away with first-class honours, 399 with 2nd class upper honours, 238 with 2nd class lower, 113 with third class and 59 passes.

 

Source: classfmonline.com