ATU launches 75th Anniversary celebrations
By Christabel Oboshie ANNAN & Zeenatu ABUBAKAR, Accra
Accra Technical University has launched its 75th Anniversary celebrations in Accra.
The launch included the unveiling of the anniversary logo and cloth, carrying the theme ’75 Years of Impacting Society and Driving Innovation.’
The year-long celebration will culminate in October 2024 with a thanksgiving service in Accra. ‘
Acting Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Professor Amevi Acakpovi, expressed concerns about encroachment at the Mpehuasem campus and challenges related to campus access.
He emphasized the need to recruit additional staff to accommodate the growing student population and stressed the necessity of obtaining financial clearance to increase academic staff numbers.
Professor Acakpovi outlined the university’s future plans, including establishing new branches in Accra to support vibrant graduate schools for new programmes.
He highlighted the need to enhance library services, mentioning a plan for a new library block that requires support to materialize.
Looking ahead, he emphasized the growth and impact of ATU’s research and innovation fund, anticipating groundbreaking developments in Ghana and beyond.
He appealed to stakeholders for support and invited all to join in celebrating the university’s diamond jubilee.
The Guest Speaker for the Launch, Ing. Davor Wonder Salami, commended the chosen theme, stating it perfectly encapsulates the essence of a technical university—producing innovators and inventors with practical impacts on society.
He urged the Minister of Education, represented by his Deputy, to provide technical universities with the necessary support to equip all departments with modern equipment.
Salami challenged students to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for cost-effective management in the country.
Anticipating a shift away from hydrocarbon vehicles globally, he proposed that the university research alternative eco-friendly vehicles to mitigate the environmental impact of global warming.
“If we can protect the environment from vehicles that do not use fuel like petrol and diesel, then we should be able to mitigate the emission levy,” he explained.
Deputy Minister of Education in Charge of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Gifty Twum Ampofo, emphasized the importance of being educated and skilled to navigate one’s environment and avoid being deceived.
She urged individuals to cultivate a hobby in the TVET area to enhance their understanding of the environment and contribute collectively to its proper care.
Furthermore, she appealed to technical universities to visit second-cycle institutions to sensitize students about the significance of core subjects in their TVET careers.
Additionally, she advised lecturers to continuously upgrade themselves, avoiding stagnation.
Instead, she encouraged them to unlearn outdated concepts and relearn new ones to stay relevant in their fields.
