The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has for more than three decades, stood as a pillar of excellence in teacher education and capacity building in Ghana, training thousands of professionals, shaping the future of education, governance, and industry.
However, the true measure of a university’s impact is not only in the degrees it awards but also in how it uplifts and empowers the communities surrounding it. Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW said this in an address he delivered at the launch of Vice-Chancellor’s Community Initiative Programme (VCCIP), under the theme: “UEW Future Forge: Harnessing the Potentials of the Youth for Total Development,” at Winneba.
The objectives for the establishment of Community Initiative Programme by the University are to improve the standards of education in Effutu and Ajumako the University’s catchments Area. It is also to provide financial support for needy students in the two traditional Areas, especially those pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at UEW and to equip the youth with marketable skills to enhance their employability.
The VC said UEW’s embarked on that bold initiative to give back to the communities that host them. “It is our resolve to extend the transformative power of education beyond the corners of our lecture halls and into the lives of those who need it most.” “However, the true measure of a university’s impact is not only in the degrees it awards but also in how it uplifts and empowers the communities surrounding it, the VC noted. He said, UEW was not just- an institution of higher learning but a partner in progress, a beacon of hope, and a catalyst for change.
“We, through the Vice-Chancellor’s Community Initiative Programme (VCCIP), are reaffirming our role as a socially responsible institution, one that recognises the challenges facing the youth, families, and communities of Effutu, Ajumako, and beyond and take decisive action to address them”. According to him the initiative was rooted in the belief that education should be inclusive, equitable, and life-changing, driven by their vision to ensure that no child was left behind, no potential wasted, and no dream was out of reach.
He disclosed that the Initiative’s focus was on three thrust areas; Neighbourhood Academic Programme at providing academic support to improve standard of education in Effutu and Ajumako, Financial Support Programme for needy students especially in STEM, and Community Apprenticeship Programme which covers training and certification in areas such as food and nutrition, hospitality and family life management. “The long-term goal is to ensure that beneficiaries of the initiative are well-positioned for enrolment into the
to pursue tertiary education.”
“As we launch this initiative today, let us remember that the success of VCCIP will depend on the collective efforts of government agencies, traditional leaders, parents, teachers, students, and development partners which require dedication, commitment, and a shared vision for lasting change.”
He further stated that the Programme was not just about providing opportunities, but transforming lives, fostering resilience, and building a brighter future for generations to come. Prof Mitchual stated that the foundation for a legacy that would shape the destiny of the University’s communities and redefine the role of higher education in national development had been laid. “Let us move forward together with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that through this initiative, we are not just educating minds; we are building futures, we are changing lives, and we are shaping a better Ghana.”
He said they were implementing these strategic measures to ensure that young individuals, parents, and families in their host communities were provided with the necessary education, skills, and opportunities to achieve success “Let me reiterate that the Vice-Chancellor’s Community Initiative Programme is open to all natives of Effutu, Ajumako and surrounding townships, hence the need for all of us to invest in the future together, knowing that every cedi, every resource, and every effort contribute to building a stronger and more prosperous society.”
Nana Owusu Ofori, Progressive Peoples Party’s (PPP) National Chairman and indigene of Effutu praised the university for its wavering commitment to Effutu and Ajumako and its surrounding communities adding that the initiative needed funds to support it. He observed that in modern times, Universities have an obligation to render service to their host communities.
“The new agenda UEW has initiated which is critical and social and I fully support it and also expressed the need for all hands to be on deck at contributing their quota to towards it to have future credible manpower as a country,” he stated. Neenyi Ghartey VII, Effutu Oma Odefe and the Chancellor of UEW, who chaired the event applauded the initiative and stressed that the prudent decision by management of the university to support the education of needy children would go a long way to shape the future of the citizens in Ajumako and Effutu.
“Let us all commit not just in words, but in action to ensure that this initiative fulfilled its promise of empowerment, transformation and lasting impact on the two Traditional Areas,” Neenyi Ghartey added.
Source: GNA
