The newly inaugurated UENR Council has been urged to prioritise discipline and governance excellence as it steers the affairs of the University of Energy and Natural Resources. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu gave the directive on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 11-member Governing Council held in Accra.
Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that the council must play a critical role in ensuring that the university delivers relevant and high-quality education to students across the Bono and Ahafo regions and beyond.
He also called on the Council to use its expertise to address unresolved legal matters related to the office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor. “This is key to creating a stable and efficient academic environment,” he said.
The Minister revealed that the government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), is pursuing an infrastructure development agenda to uplift public universities nationwide. He noted a significant proposal under review, amounting to over €200 million, aimed at bolstering UENR’s facilities.
Mr. Iddrisu further announced that SIC Life’s Chief Executive Officer had committed to constructing hostels for both UENR and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as part of the insurance company’s corporate social responsibility initiative.
“I assure and encourage him that my first choice would be that the infrastructure should go to the UENR,” he stated. “With my equity lens, UENR does have better infrastructure than KNUST, and this initiative would reinforce that advantage.”
He also disclosed President John Mahama’s plan to establish satellite campuses in various parts of the region to extend access to tertiary education. The Minister confirmed that he had received a petition regarding the university’s management and would forward it to the Council for assessment and guidance.
In a major development, Mr. Iddrisu announced that UENR is among four public tertiary institutions selected to benefit from a GH¢10 million infrastructure support package from GETFund. This seed funding will facilitate various infrastructure projects to improve campus life and academic delivery.
Chairman of the UENR Governing Council, Oseadeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II, Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the appointment. He pledged that the Council would uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, and academic excellence.
“We shall work together to address all concerns, including the petition, with the urgency and fairness it deserves,” he said.
The Education Minister also used the occasion to inaugurate governing councils for Bolgatanga Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, and the University for Environmental and Sustainable Development, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education management across the country.
