The Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana at Fiapre in the Catholic Diocese of Sunyani in Ghana’s Bono Region, Prof. Daniel Obeng Ofori, has counselled new matriculates to adhere to the university’s motto, which is “Let the light of knowledge and wisdom shine forth”.
He urged them to keep the motto as their guiding principle throughout their stay in the University and even after completion.
Speaking at the 35th matriculation for the students who had been admitted in January and February into the University, Prof. Ofori emphasised the importance of cooperation and unity among the members of the university to achieve their common goals.
He also highlighted the university’s commitment to providing quality education and producing graduates who will make a positive impact on society.
He, however, cautioned the new students to avoid engaging themselves in examination malpractice, which according to him had unfortunately become prevalent in many Universities.
During an opening Mass for the freshmen and women on February 25, 2024, the Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, the Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, who officiated expressed his gratitude to the University for allowing him to interact and speak with the students.
He especially acknowledged the young men and women for their intellectual and cultural development, as well as their understanding of the Catholic perspective on life and the wisdom of the gospel.
Making references to Pope Francis’ recent address to the International Federation of Catholic Universities in Rome, Bishop Agyenta reminded the University of their Triple Mission of “teaching, researching, and giving back to the community.”
Quoting the Holy Father, he said “I will also ask for your help, I ask you to help the Church at this moment of history to translate culturally in a language open to new generations a new times the richness of the catholic traditions.”
Touching on the readings of the day (second Sunday of Lent), Bishop lamented that that unfortunately in the Ghanaian society today, personal interest, personal security, and personal comfort had become the hallmarks of the political, civil and religious lives of the people.
“We seem to live in a society where people are defined more by what they have, and what they possess rather than by what they are willing to give away,” he stated.
According to the Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, he believed that there was no better place to nurture and promote the wisdom of the Lord of the Gift than in a Catholic University where the cultural and intellectual formation of young people who are destined to give back to society is a priority or part of the mission of the institution.
He called on us all most especially the matriculates to embrace very openly the law of the gift remembering that, “your being and your personality increase in the measure that you are willing to give yourself away and remember that your being decreases in the measure that you are unwilling to give yourself away.”
Some of the things, he noted that could be given away include “our time, talent, and treasure remembering that everything we have is a gift and should be shared freely with others.”
