The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has been accredited by the General Legal Council to offer the newly introduced one-year Pre-Bar Professional Law Course under the Legal Education Act, 2026, becoming one of only 19 institutions nationwide approved to run the programme.
The university also graduated 70 Bachelor of Laws (LLB) students, comprising 61 males and nine females, bringing the institution's total number of law graduates to 133 since the establishment of its School of Law.
The university also conferred postgraduate degrees on 298 students, made up of eight PhD candidates and 290 master's degree students, during its Second Congregation Ceremony for the School of Law and the Special Graduation Ceremony for the School of Graduate Studies held in Wa.
Milestone
Announcing the milestone, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, described the occasion as historic and urged prospective law graduates across the country to enrol in the university's new Pre-Bar programme.
Prof Derbile also highlighted the impressive performance of the university's pioneer LLB graduates, noting that 28 out of 42 candidates, representing nearly 70 per cent, had passed the Ghana School of Law entrance examination and were currently undertaking professional legal training.
He said strengthening tertiary education through improved infrastructure, academic freedom and strategic partnerships would empower universities to produce graduates capable of addressing Ghana's socio-economic challenges while promoting innovation and democratic governance.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of UBIDS, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, described education as the most powerful instrument for building a prosperous, inclusive and democratic society.
"As we celebrate the achievements of our graduates today, we also celebrate the growing stature of UBIDS as a centre of excellence dedicated to producing graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills, values and leadership qualities needed to transform Ghana and the world," he said.
Dr Kunbuor commended the Governing Council, management, faculty and staff for their dedication to advancing the university's vision despite infrastructural challenges.
Pressure
He acknowledged that rising enrolment in public universities continued to place significant pressure on lecture halls, laboratories, accommodation, and other teaching and learning facilities. However, he expressed confidence that the government's commitment to expanding access to tertiary education, coupled with stronger public-private partnerships, would significantly improve the learning environment.
He further stressed that academic freedom, institutional autonomy, accountability and good governance remained fundamental pillars for building world-class universities capable of responding effectively to national development needs. He advised the graduates to "lead with integrity, serve with humility, innovate with courage and always strive for excellence."
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who was the Special Guest of Honour, commended UBIDS for its remarkable progress despite operating under severe resource constraints since its establishment. He described the university as "a tremendous blessing" to Northern Ghana and the nation, noting that it had grown into a centre for innovation, research and national transformation.
Mr Bagbin reaffirmed Parliament's commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between universities, industry and public institutions to ensure that research effectively informs public policy and national development. He also welcomed the recent legal education reforms, which ended the monopoly in professional legal training, and congratulated UBIDS on securing accreditation to offer the Pre-Bar programme.
The Speaker further announced plans to donate law books to the university's School of Law and pledged his continued support for infrastructure development and the establishment of additional professional schools, including a medical school.
Valedictorian
Delivering the valedictory address on behalf of the graduating law students, the Overall Best Graduating Student, Roger Yelkumwin Zolko-Ere, described graduation as the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of an academic journey. He recounted the sacrifices made by students, particularly weekend students who balanced full-time employment with demanding legal studies, and expressed appreciation to lecturers, parents, guardians and colleagues for their unwavering support.
Mr Zolko-Ere appealed to senior lawyers and legal practitioners to mentor the new graduates as they prepared for professional legal training and eventual admission to the Bar. He encouraged his fellow graduates to continue pursuing excellence and to use their legal education to promote justice, protect rights and contribute meaningfully to national development.
