UDS confers Doctorate Degree on Chissano

Tamale, April 12, GNA - The University for Development Studies (UDS) has conferred a Doctorate Degree on Mr Joaquim Alberto Chissano, a Former President of Mozambique for his dedication to the service of humanity and collective fight for independence and equity in Mozambique.

A citation accompanying the award described Mr Chissano as 'A courageous leader, outstanding negotiator for peace, sovereignty, stability, avowed promoter of social, economic and cultural development, high achiever and distinguished reformer'.

Dr Abdulai Baba Salifu, the Chairman of the Governing Council of UDS, decorated Mr Chissano with the honours at a special congregation of UDS in Tamale on Saturday.

Dr Salifu said 'The choice of Mr Chissano for the conferment of a honourary Doctorate Degree by the Governing Council and Academic Board of UDS was apt, considering his contribution to the development of Mozambique, the African continent and humanity at large'.

The special congregation, which climaxed the third edition of the Africa Leadership Lectures, delivered by Mr Chissano from Thursday to Saturday, also saw the conferment of honourary Doctorate Degrees on four other distinguished personalities, who contributed to the establishment and development of UDS as well as the graduation of 113 Master of Arts students and three PhD students.

The four personalities were Professor R.B Benning, first Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Ebenezer Laing, Member of UDS' first Governing Council, Dr Hakeem Ahmed Wemah, former Chairman of Governing Council of UDS and Naa Professor Abubakari Al-Hassan, Yeni-Gushie Naa (Chief of Gushie).

The Africa Leadership Lectures, instituted by the UDS in 2013, were intended to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that would support and enhance African development.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Chissano, who is the pioneer recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Award on Africa Leadership in 2001, said Ghana and Mozambique were similar in all respects and was hopeful that the honour done him would further deepen collaboration between both countries.

President John Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, called on institutions to run development oriented programmes for the betterment of society.

President Mahama assured of government's continued support for the education sector and to train the needed human resource to contribute to the development of the country.

He also assured of government's support for the UDS' Energy Centre and urged the Centre to work on solar energy issue s to help address the country's energy situation.

He commended the UDS for initiating and sustaining the Africa Leadership Lectures, which created the platform for past leaders of the continent to share their experiences for the development of the continent.

Professor Haruna Yakubu, Vice-Chancellor of UDS called for public private partnership in the agricultural sector to help revive and modernize it to ensure increased agricultural production.

Professor Yakubu said UDS was championing efforts at ensuring sanitation in the country and called for enforcement of the country's sanitation laws to ensure clean environment.   

GNA