The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has graduated 1,314 students from its Faculty of Management Studies, with Ekezie Oluchi Ada emerging as the faculty’s Overall Best graduating student at the third session of the university’s 18th Congregation.
The graduands comprised 1,009 undergraduates and 305 diploma students who were presented at a ceremony held at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium to mark the completion of their programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Ms Ada, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, obtained a final cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.91.
Addressing the congregation, the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, urged the graduates to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired to solve problems, strengthen institutions and create opportunities for others.
He said their success would depend not only on what they knew, but more importantly, on how effectively they applied that knowledge in their professional lives.
He encouraged graduates entering fields such as marketing, human resource management, operations, entrepreneurship and public administration to make sound decisions, lead responsibly and adapt to changing business conditions.
Prof. Mawutor said integrity, sound judgement and accountability should guide their professional conduct, given that their decisions would affect employees, customers, organisations and the wider community.
He also urged them not to see themselves merely as job seekers but to use their knowledge to establish businesses, innovate and create employment opportunities.
Responsible use of AI
The Vice-Chancellor said artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies were changing business and management practices, creating opportunities to improve efficiency, support analysis and inform decisions.
However, he cautioned that careless use of the technologies could introduce bias, compromise confidential information and lead to poor decisions.
University developments
Prof. Mawutor said UPSA had reviewed its statutes, which were last updated in 2012 to reflect the university’s growth, with the introduction of additional academic programmes and departments, and current regulatory requirements.
The revised statutes were expected to take effect by the end of 2026, he said.
He said the university had introduced 16 academic programmes during the period under review, comprising four undergraduate and 12 postgraduate programmes.
Ada encourages fellow graduates
Delivering the valedictory address, Ms Ada said graduation represented more than the certificates and transcripts awarded to students, reflecting the sacrifices, sleepless nights and determination that had brought them to the milestone.
“Our past does not determine our future. What matters is our willingness to keep learning, work hard and pursue our goals with purpose,” she said.
She urged her fellow graduates to remain disciplined, consistent and willing to learn, regardless of the paths they chose after university.
Advice
The congregation speaker, the Managing Director of Appointed Time Printing Limited, Jacqueline Afful, urged the graduates to combine ambition with discipline, character, initiative and hard work.
She encouraged them not to allow setbacks, including job rejections and financial difficulties, to discourage them from pursuing their ambitions.
