14th Matriculation Speech
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4889″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WELCOME ADDRESS BY DR. ROBERT A. BAFFOUR, VP, GTUC 14TH MATRICULATION CEREMONY ON FEBRUARY 8, 2014
GTUC FACULTY AND STAFF PRESENT
DISTINGUISHED GUEST
PROUD FAMILY MEMBERS, GUARDIANS, AND FRIENDS OF OUR MATRICULANTS
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, AND MOST OF ALL
OUR PROUD MATRICULANTS, CLASS OF 2014 AND 2017
Let me first thank all of you especially parents and Guardians for taking time out of your much needed Saturday agenda to be here to grace all this important adventure for our fresh students here today. Welcome to our home, the GTUC
Ladies and gentlemen sitting here are the people whose selfless sacrifices have made it possible for the students to be standing here today. Please join me as we support our students clap to say thank you for supporting our future leaders.
On behalf of the University Council, the President of GTUC, academic board, the faculty and staff, and current students of GTUC I welcome you to GTUC. By now you all know what GTUC stands for so if you do not know, take that as your second homework from me. And let me warn you, GTUC here does not stand for the Ghana Trade Union Congress.
As you are well aware, at the end of this event, you become an official member of this family. So technically speaking, as at now, you are not part of us. Today you will take an oath which will confer on you all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of studentship in this university.
At this 14th matriculation ceremony, we are formally welcoming 619 students from Ghana and 12 other countries.
Let me assure you that, you have come to a place that welcomes the opportunity to take young men and women through all potential education challenges and of course learning opportunities, to develop future leaders of Ghana, Africa and the world as a whole.
Let me start my speech today with a short refresher on revolutions. And here I am not talking of military revolution. I am talking of economic revolutions. The world has seen three major revolutions: the first two were the Agricultural revolution and the industrial revolution. Let me speak briefly on the industrial revolution.
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology had a profound effect on socioeconomic and cultural conditions.
The first Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, merged into the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, railways, and later in the 19th century with the internal combustion engine and electrical power generation. The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect of daily life was eventually influenced in some way.
We are now in the 3rd revolution: the e-revolution. The question then is, as today’s leaders charting the path for tomorrow’s leadership, what role are we playing to make sure that these future leaders will play significant roles in the current e-revolution.
As a university, Our role is to produce graduates that will stand out and will be known to be bold, confident, articulate, professional, entrepreneurial, visionary and with a deep sense of social and ethical responsibility.
GTUC’s vision is to produce students who excel both in the classroom and on the job. Not only will you excel in the classroom and on the job when you graduate, but will also thrive in the society to become the ambassadors for GTUC, your country and as Global citizens as well.
We shall provide you with a dynamic environment, with lots of stimulating programmes and activities to help you achieve such core competencies and people skills listed above.
My fresh students, we have brought you here today to be part of a family of learners with the hope that you can change our future. As we all sit here today, we acknowledge that Ghana and for that matter the continent African is not
Going anywhere when 90% of your fellow class mates could not make it to the universities. Now if you think university education is important for nation building, then you can easily forecast the future of this country and Africa if this academic participation rate remains the same.
- Ghana is not going anywhere if a journey from Accra to Kumasi that is supposed to take 2.5 hours actually takes 4 to 6 hours.
- We are not going anywhere when people wait for the rain to start and throw their trash on the streets.
- Class of 2015- and 2017, you are the e-generation. You are the future of this country and the continent as a whole.
Today you are embarking on a journey that will provide you with lots of opportunities. You are embarking on a journey to become the next person to change our world no matter how small it may be. You are embarking on a tough but a rewarding journey of academics. Remember, for every journey, there are challenges, the car may break down; you may run out of fuel (like a typical Ghanaian taxi or trotro driver). You may be stranded in the middle of nowhere. But remember, that will not be enough reason to believe you’ll fail to reach your destination. As you travel this road of life, keep your eyes, nose, ears and alls senses open. This will allow you to grasp any opportunities that will come your way. And trust me they will come.
Always remember, the key to your success is in your own hands. It is your comings and goings that will carry you forward.
As a young institution, we pride ourselves with a rich academic community with interesting academic culture as well. We look forward to seeing you totally immersed in the GTUC community and culture!
Class of 2015 and 2017, this is your moment. The next time WE will gather here with this level of flamboyancy will be the day we will be calling your names for your certificates. Some names will be called with first class attached to them, while some will be called with pass attached. Always remember, while the certificate will take you to the interview room and perhaps give you the job, your ability to sustain that job will be based on how deep you immersed yourself in this education culture of GTUC. We want you to be honest, analytical, critical, innovative, decent, and above all we want you to be smart with the right attitude. While here, I want you to immerse yourself in the deep seas of technology and become tech savvy.
Let me conclude with Captain Jon Luc Packard of the USS Enterprise daily open remarks as he sailed his ship through space in the Star Trec Voyages.
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Students, I want you to explore this new world of knowledge, seek out new friends, think big and deep to help you do great thinks that we could not imagine.
Like the stars that led the three wise men to Jesus, today, all the stars, the likes of PROXIMA CENTAURIS, ALPHA MAJORIS, THE POLAR STAR have aligned to favor you for a successful future. Grab this moment, study hard, and let your light shine and be the ambassadors of this school, be the ambassadors of your country, and of course the true ambassadors of this great continent Africa.
It is my pleasant duty to welcome you to this event and to our institution, Ghana Technology University College.
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