Christian Service University To Raise $3m For Facilities

Joyce Aryee - Chief Executive of Salt and Light Ministry

Authorities of Christian Service University College (CSUC) -a private university in Kumasi, have launched a fund raising programme to raise $3 million within five years for the construction of educational facilities to help improve the human resource base of the country.

The fund raising programme, dubbed ‘the CSUC Challenge:Three-in-five project” which was launched at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi on Friday, August 24, 2010, is expected to raise a total of GHC600,000.00 for the first year .

This, according to the CSUC authorities, will enable them kick-start the construction of projects such as a library and ICT complex , a clinical laboratory designed to build the expertise of students offering Degree in Nursing programme , as well as supporting brilliant but needy students who would be offered admission there.

In his inaugural address, the President of CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frimpong gave an assurance of their commitment to pursue positive oriented programmes, saying , “Our vision to become a first class evangelical Christian University that produces men and women with moral uprightness, academic excellence and a passion to serve and transform society is on course”.

“This vision and our distinct mandate of integrating faith and vigorous learning have become critical for national development”, he explained, adding ,” offering quality education grounded in strong Christian values, thereby training responsible and ethically-minded leaders who will not seek to alleviate their own poverty through the dissipation of public funds with recklessness has become even more urgent”.

Recalling the history of the CSUC, Prof. Frempong said from a humble beginning of a handful of students in 1974 as a theological College for the training of Pastors and church leaders.

He pointed out that it was in 2006 that the CSUC was “transitioned into a University College with a broader mandate, offering diverse programmes” saying , “in addition to its flagship programme in theology, the university, which now boasts of a student population of 1,900, with as many as 100 dedicated faculty and staff, now offers degree programmes in Business Administration, Communication Studies and Computer Science.

Announcing that “a degree programme in Nursing will commence this academic year,” Prof. Frempong pointed out that, “ the process for obtaining accreditation for other undergraduate degree programmes in Community Development, Information Technology and Master’s Programme in Theology and Missions, are ongoing”

He also assured that “ a ten-year strategic plan that will catapult CSUC into a full-fledged university status is at its final stages”.

Appealing to past students, development partners and the public to massively support the fund raising programme, Prof. Frempong noted “ we need to upgrade our infrastructure as we strive to become a world-class Christian University”.

The Chief Executive of Salt & Light Ministry, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, who launched the fund raising ceremony, expressed concern about the lifestyles of a section of the public, saying “ we live in society when evil has become so endemic that some people now hold the belief that what is generally accepted as right is wrong and wrong is right”.

Calling on the society to lead morally upright lifestyles, Rev. Dr. Aryee said society ought to be partners with every programme that held Christ in high esteem, just as the authorities of CSUC had initiated through their fund raising programe.

She said by actively supporting the CSUC to meet its set targets, the university authorities would be in the position to execute programmes that would churn out honest, selfless, dedicated and committed future leaders ready to enter the world to serve instead of being served.