The Alumni association of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has organized a cocktail reception aimed at reconnecting former students of the institution and to raise funds to support the Vice-Chancellor’s Endowment Fund (VCEF).
The VCEF, an investment fund established by the University, seeks to support brilliant but financially-challenged fresh and continuing students through the provision of scholarships tenable for training in any programme at the university.
The event, christened ‘Cocktail with Alumni and Friends’, was held on Thursday, September 12, 2019, and brought together both former students of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) as well as graduates of UPSA in a congenial and nostalgic ambience.
The Director of the Business Development Unit and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the VCEF, Dr Albert Martins, in his welcoming address, explained that the alumni homecoming soiree was to deepen the University’s relationship with its alumni whilst providing the platform for members to reestablish contact with one another and explore networking opportunities.
He said the alumni plays and will continue to play pivotal role in the Academe’s quest to becoming a world-class institution that is regionally relevant, national entrenched and globally recognized.
“We have invited you here to engage you and to partner you to make sure we run this university together. Again, we are here to afford an interaction between our ourselves and the new management of UPSA as most of you left here [the university] many years ago and are yet to meet any of the top management members. You are very important to us as stakeholders in developing this university further, “he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, also underscored the importance and contributions of the alumni over the years. He cited one of such instances where an alumnus was instrumental in the provision of street lights in and around campus by the Ministry of Energy and called for more of such collaborations between the two stakeholders.
Prof. Amartey also hinted that over 55 scholarships would be awarded to brilliant but needy students in the 2020/21 academic year as the University plans to commemorate its 55th anniversary next year.
“Next year, the University (IPS/UPSA) will be 55 years and the founder, Nana Opoku Ampomah, has graciously given us his blessings to celebrate it in a grand style. To mark this occasion, I have charged the planning committee to give a minimum of 55 scholarships to represent our 55 years of existence,” he disclosed.
He further added that the gesture was to increase access to higher education for the indigent in society who are often sidelined due to dire financial circumstance.
“I am by this extending an invitation to the alumni of this noble university and all well-wishers of this initiative to contribute towards the Vice-Chancellor’s Endowment Fund in order to make the 55th anniversary and homecoming celebration a memorable,” Prof Okoe Amartey appealed.
Meanwhile, the VCEF Board of Trustees awarded some notable personalities for their invaluable support and financial contributions towards the fund over the past few years of its establishment.
