President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who threw this challenge to the UDS said establishing the Peace and Security Unit in the university would address the copious violent conflicts in the Northern Region.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Salifu Saeed at the special congregations of the UDS to confer an Honourary Doctorate Degree on Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa, former president of Tanzania on Friday in Tamale.

The president indicated that the frequent violent conflicts in the Northern Region and some parts of the country were sources of worry to the government and that it was imperative for academia to help find solutions to the conflicts.

President Akufo-Addo said that one surest way to halt the conflicts was for people in responsible positions to detect early warning signals of the violence and working towards averting them.

He argued that training people to understand and detect early warning signs was very crucial and important tool to help to halt the violent conflicts in the region.

“We are ready to support UDS with the needed resources and logistics to establish the peace and security unit or centre,” he assured.

President Addo-Akufo reiterated the government resolved to fight corruption in the country and urged the universities to assist the government to achieve it.

Turning on to the students, the president advised them to try to come out with entrepreneurial skills in order to support the establishment of business ventures.

He said the government was prepared to support students with entrepreneurial skills to establish their own businesses.

The Vice-Chancellor of the UDS, Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye appealed to the government to give them the opportunity to employ staff to man various courses being introduced in the university.

He lamented that most of the lecturers and other categories of staff were old and near retirement.

Prof. Teye indicated that lack of adequate staff in the university was affecting quality teaching and learning and that it was about time government allowed them recruit new staff to replace the retired staff.

In all 222 people were awarded with masters degrees in various fields of learning.