VALEDICTORY ADDRESS BY DOUGLAS KWAME ADJEI

Madam Chancellor, Madam Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Provost, Distinguished Guest Speaker, Deans of Schools, Faculty Members, Fellow Graduands, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled to have made Valedictorian for this noble Bachelor of Science in Administration Class of 2021.  To God be the Glory.

This is a great day for us all. Some of us may be the first in our families to have graduated from the premier university. Others may also be leaving here with top business ideas and a strong network of students, friends, indeed a whole new family that we will recognize in a time to come — ascendent in business, economics, politics… — the possibilities are truly endless. Having been able to cross this four-year hurdle of university education is an achievement worth celebrating.

Some of us never had it easy. Paying our first-year tuition fee was just a miracle. We had to struggle for chairs in highly dense classes like that of Business Mathematics. We had to learn to stay with roommates from different backgrounds and cultures. Those in the Romantic Vandal City will attest to the condition of our reading room. The noise from the gym close to the reading room alone could discourage you from continuing with your highly piled readings. Keeping up with a never-ending reading list was a tough challenge for most. I personally had to dedicate over 4 hours of my day to reading study materials.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a new teaching mode, presented itself with new sets of challenges for the entire academic community; lecturers and students alike. While some faced challenges acquiring technological devices like laptops, others faced power outages and network connectivity challenges. Nevertheless, we found ways to adjust, adapt, and make the best out of our online learning experience.

Through all of the sleepless nights, financial challenges, and academic stress, we survived! Here we are smiling, resplendent in the glory of bagging our first degree, looking nothing like what we have been through, thankfully. This attests to what Stephen King said: "No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out of the other side". We indeed came out of this academic stress with the skill set crucial for our societies and the world.

To our continuing students observing this ceremony, you will survive just like we did. Enjoy the process — enjoy the pain of reading numerous slides, enjoy the pain of meeting several deadlines and enjoy the loneliness that comes with following your dreams. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Let us be brave to say no to things that will hinder us from achieving our aspirations. We should always remember that nothing good comes easy in life. We will have to make real sacrifices to achieve whatever goal we have. Pele, the former Brazilian footballer, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, once said: "Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrificing and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."

To us, the graduating students, this is the time to start planning our careers and lives. Let us find mentors who will coach and guide us in making critical career and life decisions. Let us hone our networking skills as this will help us advance our careers and make us stay relevant in our chosen fields. The various alumni associations on campus are ready to receive us.

We should never forget to take risks at this stage of our lives. This will help build our confidence in life. Let us take advantage of online courses to develop our soft and technical skills. We should always stand up for the truth, even when it seems challenging. Being truthful may sometimes cost us, but hey, that is what will make our society and world a better place.

To the young entrepreneurs amongst us, the systems and structures in this country may look unfavorable. Let us take inspiration from other young entrepreneurs like Bright Simons and Sangu Delle, who have made it regardless. We should be bold to take calculated risks, develop a strong business plan and manage the finances of our budding businesses very well.

As we enter the next phase of our lives, while we feel bad when we experience rejection, let us not stay down. Rejection does not mean we are not good enough. It is the other party that failed to see our true potential. It is their loss and not ours. Dr. Steve Maraboli, a life-changing speaker and Author, says, "Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being redirected to something better."

On behalf of the graduating class, I would like to say a huge thank you to our parents, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, mentors, colleagues, and family members who supported us financially, emotionally, and spiritually during this four-year journey. Thanks to Amadu Zulkaneni, popularly known as Discipline, Marian Frempomaa Boateng, also known as Miss Mimie, and all our hardworking course reps who sacrificed their time for the good of the class.

I want to thank Dr. Gyasi-Gyamerah, Future Leaders School, and all who came to my aid when I gained admission at the University of Ghana. A big thank you to Fondazioné for sponsoring my university education. I would not have been here without your financial support.

I also want to thank my family, colleagues, study mates, mentors, and lecturers who encouraged, supported, and guided me throughout my stay on campus. Elikem Agbosu, Foster Osei Jnr, Ruhaina Razak, Joseph Acheampong, Baaba Jenkins, Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, Sir Cephas Amegavie Tetteh, Dr. Samuel Nana Yaw Simpson, and Professor Godfred Bokpin, I am forever grateful for your mentorship and support.

TO THE ENTIRE GRADUATING CLASS

I say Ayekoo

Zhùhè

Félicitations

Congratulations

As I end my speech, I would like to quote this verse from Isaiah 43:18-19. The Lord is saying to you:

“Forget those things that happened a long time ago. Do not think about the past events. Look! Now I will do something new! It is already beginning to happen. Surely, you can recognize it. Yes, I will make a road through the desert. I will make streams in the wilderness”.

THANK YOU.