Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, has urged the people of the region to position themselves to exploit the business opportunities that would come with the establishment of a University
He made the call at the sod-cutting ceremony at Sokode-Lokoe, by President John Evans Atta Mills, for the commencement of work on the first public University in the region; the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
Togbe Afede said there would be several job opportunities from the construction of infrastructure, through to the full operation of the University, with immeasurable job openings in the services sector.
He said the people of the region must rejoice over the establishment of the University because “investment in education is the best strategy in fighting poverty.”
He commended the Evangelical Presbyterian University College for blazing the trail for University education in the region.
Togbe Afede was optimistic that the University would not be another of those, which would come to worsen the graduate unemployment.
He said the University must challenge the imagination, creativity and innovativeness of its students.
“The authorities must build the capacities of students for critical thinking, comprehension and ambition to excel and be responsible.”
He said the students should be trained to be altruistic, tolerant and have empathy for patience that they would come out to serve.
President Mills said the Volta Region deserved the University and does not owe any thanks to anybody for its establishment.
He said the UHAS was long overdue and was necessary to ensure equity in providing opportunities for higher learning in the region.
“If the University were in existence, many sons and daughters of the region, such as Togbe Afede, would not come to Legon and travel outside to acquire university education.”
He was optimistic that the University would not lack lecturers because the region has a lot and was hopeful that the people would make the University “the envy of all”.
President Mills thanked landowners in the area for making a wise decision to release large plots of land towards the establishment of the University.