Professor Elias N. K. Sowley, the Chairman of the National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC), was on May 7, 2022, sworn-in as the first Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU), formerly known as Wa Polytechnic.
Chief Sulemana Nabila, the Chairman of the Governing Council (GC) of the university, administered the Oath of Office to Professor Sowley at his investiture attended by scores of dignitaries including Chiefs, the Clergy, Vice Chancellors from sister universities, members of the Academic Board, among others, at the forecourt of the Library Complex of the University.
The DHLTU was established under the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) as amended, having been converted from a Polytechnic to a Technical University in April, 2020, in tandem with the Technical Universities Amendment Act, 2020 (Act 1016).
Professor Sowley, who was re-elected to a second term of office as Chairman of the NCLC at its 43rd Plenary Assembly held at Cape Coast from 13th-16th January, 2022, was appointed the first VC of the DHLTU by the Governing Council, effective 1st June, 2021.
Until his appointment, he was the Dean of the Graduate School of the University for Development Studies (UDS), a position he assumed in 2018. Prior to that he had worked in various teaching and administrative capacities in the same institution since 2001.
Speaking after his investiture, Professor Sowley expressed gratitude to the GC for finding him worthy of the position of VC and also stakeholders of DHLTU who welcomed, encouraged and supported him most especially, the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Area, Wa Naa, Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the Regional Minister and others who took keen interest in the affairs of DHLTU and have supported the institution in various ways.
He also commended President Akufo-Addo, the Minister for Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Commission for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), for taking keen interest in the progress and development of the University.
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, who represented President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Special Guest of Honour in an address, appealed to management of the University to develop tailor-made programmes and courses directed at already practising artisans to update their skills and up-grade their output.
“Let us look beyond the usual cliché of “English and Maths” as entry requirement and create a window for our brothers and sisters who have not had the benefit of formal education”, he stated, adding, that government through the Ministry of Education, had approved the running of Access Courses for non-science students to enable them pursue engineering programmes.
He called on management to take advantage of this arrangement and improve on enrolment by offering non-science students the chance to pursue their dream careers in engineering.
He further stated that government is not oblivious of the challenges faced by Technical Universities especially DHLTU, promising that the provision of the necessary infrastructure including the completion of projects such as the Vice Chancellor’s residence, staff accommodation, students’ hostel and faculty building, some of which have stalled for many years, will be prioritised.
In his welcome address, Chief Nabila stated that the Governing Council would continue to selflessly commit to ensuring that the University enjoyed a peaceful working environment for the successful execution of its mandate of research, teaching and learning, adding that it will also provide platforms that will interface the institution and its stakeholders to guarantee smooth administration and academic work.
The investiture also coincided with the 3rd Congregation of the University during which 311 graduands from the Faculties of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, Applied Arts Design and General Studies and Business School who completed their studies in 2021, were conferred with Higher National Diplomas.
Felicia Nyuori of the Faculty of Applied Arts Design and General Studies and Bijek N. Justice of the Department of Dispensing Technology, emerged the best female and male graduating students, respectively. They were awarded citations, laptops and other items.
Addressing the graduands, Prof. Sowley encouraged them to apply the knowledge they had acquired to create their own jobs rather than seek for jobs, advising them not to cut their umbilical cord from the University, but be her good ambassadors.
He called on them also to join the Alumni Association and support their Alma Matter. Additionally, he encouraged them to enrol in the Bachelor of Technology programmes which will be mounted in the next Academic Year.
