Vice-Chancellor advocates for rediscovering values debate

Professor Haruna Yakubu, Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), has advocated for a national debate on how to tackle the country’s lost values, such as honesty and hard work.

He called for the re-introduction of Civic Education studies in Basic and Senior High Schools, as a necessary first step in re-capturing these lost values, and launching a crusade to curb the canker of moral decadence and corruption.

Professor Yakubu expressed these sentiments in his speech at the Congregation of the Wa Campus of the UDS at Wa, during which 3,285 graduates and 101 others who pursued various post graduate Masters programmes at the campus this year were awarded their certificates.

He noted that society’s approval of the love for quick money through fair or unfair means was very disturbing, and that had resulted in corruption in the Ghanaian society at all levels.

He, therefore, advised the new graduates to demonstrate future leadership qualities that would reflect the values they had nurtured over the years at the UDS. “Strive to promote integrity and respect for diversity and human dignity, see the world beyond you and put these values into practice by serving the less fortunate members of the society”.

Dr Abdulai Baba Salifu, Chairman of the UDS Council, expressed worry about disconnect between Industry and academia, adding that industrial growth would continue to suffer in the country if the trend continued.

He called for a continuous dialogue between industry and the universities with the goal of industry supporting the higher institutions of learning to produce graduates that would meet the requirements of Industry for accelerated industrial growth.

He thanked traditional rulers in the three campuses of the University who had released large tracts of land for the development of its infrastructure and other facilities to support teaching and learning.