The National Executive Committee of the University for Development Studies (UDS) Alumni Association held its inaugural “Developer Dialogue Series” at the UDS Guest House in Accra on 20th June, 2024. This maiden event brought together prominent alumni and University Management, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Seidu-Al-Hassan, Hon. Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, Finance Director, Dr. Hardi Shaibu Mohammed, and other personalities.

The series served as a crucial platform for fostering networking relationships between the university and its alumni. Hon. Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, who doubled as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Sissala East, chaired the event. In his acceptance speech as the Chairman, he urged the Alumni Association to remain non-partisan and united, emphasizing the importance of raising the university's profile to attract more students.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Seidu-Al-Hassan delivered a speech to the Alumni Association, detailing the state of the university, including ongoing and new projects funded through Internally Generated Funds (IGF). He stressed his focus on student-centered policies and open-door approaches, which he said had led to significant contributions from the Students Representative Council (SRC). Notably, the Council donated items worth 100,000 Ghana Cedis to the University Management.

Prof. Seidu-Al-Hassan emphasized the importance of research in higher education, announcing the launch of the UDS Research Fund during the Harmattan School with a target of $100,000. This fund aims to support researchers and enhance the university's research capabilities. He continued that since assuming office, he has set up some key directorates to ensure that his vision for the university comes to fruition. Key among these directorates is the West African Centre for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR), which has been established to conduct cutting-edge, evidence-based research to influence policy at various levels in the shea sector. This initiative he said, is expected to empower women economically and boost local economies, enhancing macroeconomic stability through foreign exchange earnings. The center's mandate he said, included conducting evidence-based shea innovation and policy research, improving human resource capacity in shea innovation and value chain research, and coordinating support for research funding.

Among the ongoing projects, Prof. Seidu-Al-Hassan highlighted the near completion of the ICT Directorate Building, which would ensure timely results and a robust system for students, further enhancing ICT capabilities within the university.

The Finance Director, Dr. Hardi Mohammed Shaibu presented the financial status of the University, noting that 50% of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) were allocated to infrastructure development. He emphasized that the University strictly adhered to regulatory frameworks on financial disbursement and had significantly improved its financial standing through strategic investments.

National President of the Alumni Association, Prof. Terry Ansah, provided an overview of the association's financial standing and its mission, as well as the objectives of the Developer Dialogue Series. He outlined the association's achievements, including constructing the University entrance at Dungu Campus, donating two Nissan pickup trucks, contributing 20,000 Ghana Cedis to the UDS Endowment Fund, and supporting needy students. He also mentioned plans to build a befitting entrance at the Nyankpala Campus.

Prof. Ansah called on alumni to support the association's efforts, emphasizing the importance of serving as development partners for the University. He reiterated the significance of the Developer Dialogue Series in bringing alumni closer to the university and providing a platform for discussing its growth and development.

In his closing remarks, the chairman of the occasion Hon. Amidu Issahaku Chinnia said, he is hopeful the brilliant ideas shared and expressed would be implemented swiftly to ensure that the University fulfills its mandate of providing pro-poor academic scholarship. He again urged the association to execute its interest professionally without partisan interest and donated 10,000.00 Ghana Cedis to help in the construction of the Gate House on the Nyankpala Campus. Hon. Amidu further called on all alumni to do same.

The inaugural Developer Dialogue Series served as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the university and its alumni, fostering collaboration, and driving development for the university.

Story by: Tahiru Abdulai Alhassan and Sumaila Mohammed (UDS Media)