Tamale, Ghana — April 26, 2025

The atmosphere at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Tamale Campus was electric with excitement, pride, and celebration on Saturday, April 26, 2025, as thousands gathered at the University’s Multipurpose Auditorium for the highly anticipated April 2025 Graduation Ceremony.

With brilliant sunshine bathing the sprawling campus, the venue was adorned with UDS colors, flowing banners, and flower arrangements that set the stage for a truly memorable occasion. Families, friends, and members of the academic community filled the auditorium to capacity, cheering and waving in celebration as the graduands, clad in flowing academic gowns, beamed with joy and anticipation.

The ceremony was graced by a distinguished array of dignitaries, including the newly appointed Chairman of the University Governing Council, Ambassador Abdulai Salifu; Her Majesty Queen Nozizwe Pearl Mulela, Managing Director of Eswatini Bank and wife of His Majesty King Misuzulu KaZwelithini of the Zulu Nation in South Africa; the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Professor Augustine Ocloo; members of the UDS Governing Council; Professor Albert Luguterah, Vice-Chancellor of the C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences; former principal officers of UDS; and other eminent guests.

Addressing the University community for the very first time in his capacity as Chairman of the Governing Council, Ambassador Abdulai Salifu commended the outgoing Council for their tremendous work and assured the gathering that the new Governing Council would work diligently to uphold and even elevate the standards set by their predecessors.

In a moment of deep emotion and gratitude, Dr. Emmanuel Djaban, the valedictorian, delivered a stirring speech on behalf of his fellow graduands. He expressed heartfelt appreciation to lecturers, administrators, and supervisors for their unwavering support, guidance, and dedication, which culminated in the successes celebrated on this proud day.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, in a reflective and inspiring address, emphasized the theme of perseverance and transformation. He congratulated the 2,630 graduands, who included 372 postgraduates and 2,258 undergraduates, with the postgraduate cohort boasting 26 PhD recipients. He highlighted with particular pride the landmark achievement at the Bachelor’s level, where, for the first time, female graduands (55.1%) outnumbered their male counterparts—a significant step towards gender parity in higher education.

Professor Al-Hassan lauded the University's remarkable progress, noting strategic milestones such as a new partnership with Beijing Foreign Studies University in China, the successful delivery of the 7th Africa Leadership Lecture Series by Her Majesty Queen Nozizwe Pearl Mulela, Infrastructure development projects, including the near-completed Nursing and Midwifery Block, two 300-seater auditoriums, and a modern Dissection and Laboratory Complex, the official opening of the Campus Model Pharmacy on the Tamale Campus, UDS’ advancement to 3rd place nationally and 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 2024 Times Higher Education Rankings. He also highlighted groundbreaking achievements in women’s technical education, student leadership initiatives that prioritized student welfare, and the remarkable national appointments of UDS faculty members, all testifying to UDS’s reputation as a powerhouse of national development.

The high point of the event was the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree on Majesty Queen Nozizwe Pearl Mulela, and citation presented to her read in part that “In 2022, you shattered a six-decade ceiling to become the first woman appointed Managing Director of Eswatini Bank, an historic ascent that reflects your trailblazing spirit and unyielding resolve.

In short address, the queen thanked the university for the honour. The President of the Alumni Association, Prof. Terry Ansah presented gift items on behalf of the alumni association to signify that she is now a member.

Individual students and groups that excelled during their deployment on the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP) as well as student leaders who showed exceptional leadership skills were honoured with citations and various amounts of money.

There was collective celebration as the names of the graduands were called, and degrees were conferred amidst resounding applause, ululations, and heartfelt embraces.

As the sun set over the Tamale skyline, leaving a golden hue across the campus, it was clear that the April 2025 Graduation Ceremony was not just an academic ritual, it was a powerful statement of UDS’ enduring legacy and a radiant beacon for the future of Ghana and Africa.

Story by:
Abdul Hayi Moomen
UDS Media