Valley View University Honours Zambia, Ghana Presidents, And Three Others

The Valley View University (VVU) has conferred honorary doctorate degrees on four distinguished personalities at its first special congregation for the conferment of honorary degrees.

Among the personalities are the President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, chief of staff at the office of the President, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare and former first lady of the Republic, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

The conferment ceremony took place on Friday, 7 July 2023, at the chapel of the Oyibi campus of the Valley View University (VVU) in the Greater Accra Region.

The chief of staff received a doctor of science honorary degree. The remaining three awardees, President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and former first lady of the Republic, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings received doctor of humane letters honorary degrees.

President Akufo-Addo (left), congratulating former President John Agyekum Kufour after being conferred with a doctorate degree at the Valley View University at Oyibi in Accra

Keeping focus

President Akufo-Addo who was the special guest of honour at the congregation congratulated the President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, who is the first Adventist in the world to be come President of a country.

He also congratulated former President John Kufour, whom he referred to as his former boss, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the longest serving first lady of the Republic and the first female chief of staff at the office of the President, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei Opare.

The President in his address noted that things are certainly not easy, but he is on the considered view that his administration has chosen to focus on key thematic areas that are working together for the good of the country and he will not change focus from them.

Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia congratulating Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings after being conferred with a doctorate degree at the Valley View University at Oyibi in Accra

“Since I became President, there is nothing I have seen or experienced in office that will make me change my long held views that providing free senior high school education for all Ghanaian children, ensuring food sustainability through the programme of planting for food and jobs, adding value to our raw materials through the one district one factory policy and fast tracking the process of digitalization to ensure the efficiency in the deliver of public services and in the management of the national economy amongst others, are what are needed to help build the progressive, prosperous Ghana for which we all yearn. I will not change my focus” President Akufo-Addo said.

Common equalizer

President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and former President John Agyekum Kufour in their addressed, registered their profound appreciation to the staff and leadership of the Valley View University for the honour done them.

Prof. Robert Osei-Bonsu (right), together with Prof. William Kofi Koomson (left), Vice-chancellor, VVU honouring honouring the chief of staff at the office of the President, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei Opare

President Hichilema on his part observed that education is the common equalizer that can make the child of the rich and a child from a vulnerable family to be equal upon graduation leaving no distance between them whatsoever.

To this end, he called on African leaders to commit to investing more resources into education in order to join the comity of nations around the globe who transferred their fortunes through the education of their populists.

VVU

Valley View University was established in 1979 by the West African Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. In 1997 it was absorbed into the Adventist University system operated by the West Central African Division of Seventh-day Adventists headquartered in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

President Akufo-Addo receiving a citation from Prof. Robert Osei-Bonsu

Since 1983, the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) has been evaluating and reviewing the institution’s accreditation status and programs. The University was affiliated with Griggs University, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA in 1997 to offer Theology and Religious Studies degrees in 1997, the then National Accreditation Board, Ghana granted the university college accreditation to award her own degrees.

The Government of Ghana, in 2006, granted Valley View University a Presidential Charter to operate as an autonomous degree-granting institution. This milestone makes Valley View University the first Chartered private university in Ghana.

The two Presidents, Akufo-Addo and Hakainde Hichilema with their wives at the foyer of the Jubilee House

The University serves undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world. It admits qualified students regardless of their religious background, provided such students accept the Christian principles and lifestyle which form the basis for the University’s operations.