The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has underscored the government’s commitment to fund research, offer incentives for green technologies and foster collaboration between academia and industry to drive national development.
"We are committed to strengthening the systems that foster ideas by funding research, offering incentives for green technologies and fostering collaborations between academia and industry," she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was speaking last Saturday at the 10th Congregation of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani, where 2,336 students graduated from various programmes of study.
“The government of Ghana recognises the crucial role of science, technology and innovation in our national development," she said.
Policies
Prof. Opoku-Agymang said the government would continue to create enabling policies and infrastructure, but that "the private sector's agility and capital are essential to scale innovations, those that create jobs and improve services".
She said the UENR stood at the intersection of science, technology and stewardship, stressing that those disciplines would also shape Ghana's future.
The Vice-President stated that policy alone could not generate results and urged graduates, researchers and entrepreneurs to turn policy into progress.
Sustainability is not a feature to be added later on. It is a discipline to be practised from the onset. Think in systems, not in shortcuts,” she said.
"As you step into the next chapter, let integrity guide your work. Meet problems with courage and creativity," she advised.
Prof. Opoku-Agymang urged graduates to design energy systems, manage natural resources and build businesses that generated jobs, protected the environment and to use their skills to innovate responsibly.
Congregation
The congregation was held on the theme: "Embracing Excellence in Innovation for an Impactful Sustainable Future".
The 2,336 graduates comprised 16 Doctor of Philosophy graduates, 418 Master of Philosophy degree recipients, 1,867 Bachelor of Science degree recipients and 235 Diploma awardees.
Of the 2,102 first-degree recipients, 1,331 were male, while 721 were female.
The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who is the Chairman of the university council, surprised the valedictorian, Jennifer Addae, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry graduate, with a saloon car as a gift.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, who is also the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, further donated GH¢1 million to support the infrastructure development of the university's satellite campus at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Restore environment
The Vice-Chancellor of the UENR, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, charged the graduates to convert projects into community demonstrations and use them to restore the environment.
He urged them to apply what they had learnt to shape society, strengthen communities, steward life resources and shape industries and communities.
Prof. Asare-Bediako encouraged the graduates to "build systems that are robust, inclusive, regenerative and return as mentors for the next generation to stand on your shoulders".
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