The Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) successfully held its 4th Congregation Ceremony on November 22, 2025, at the New Auditorium, Bamahu, Wa in the Upper West Region.
The Chairman of the University Council, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Bewa-nyog Kunbuor, who officially constituted the 4th Congregation, described it as a celebration of the University’s steady progress in academic excellence, institutional strengthening, and national relevance. He commended the Vice-Chancellor, Management, staff, and students for their collective dedication to advancing the University’s mandate. He reaffirmed the Governing Council’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote good governance, financial sustainability, innovation, and academic competitiveness. He expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic and all stakeholders for their continued support, calling for sustained commitment to excellence, integrity, and service as the University charts its next phase of growth.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, announced that a total of 2,183 students were graduating, comprising 688 postgraduates and 1,495 undergraduates. Of the undergraduate cohort, 132 (12%) graduated with First Class honours, 663 (60%) with Second Class Upper, and 312 (28%) with Third Class. At the Diploma level, 42 (12%) graduated with Distinction, while 308 (88%) obtained Passes. According to the Vice-Chancellor, these outcomes reflect the University’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, research, and professional training aimed at producing graduates well-prepared for national and global development.
Prof. Derbile further announced that 27 graduates from the School of Law had been presented to the Ghana School of Law to pursue their professional training toward admission to the Ghana Bar.
Professor Derbile urged graduates to be exemplary ambassadors of the University by applying their knowledge, skills, and values to foster positive change in society. He highlighted significant infrastructure challenges confronting the University, especially the many uncompleted GETFund projects. He noted, however, that through the University’s Accelerated Infrastructure Completion Initiative, funded by Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and other support sources, key projects including the magnificent New Auditorium, had been completed.
The Vice-Chancellor announced that plans were far advanced toward establishing a School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, with proposed programmes and potential training facilities already identified. He expressed his profound appreciation to the Government for providing Ten Million Ghana cedis (Gh¢10,000,000.00) seed money for the new school. He further appealed for a special funding window to complete outstanding infrastructural projects, referencing a GHS 193 million proposal submitted to GTEC. He concluded by commending all stakeholders for their support. He congratulaed the graduating class, urging them to remain connected as partners in transforming SDD-UBIDS.
The Valedictorian, Mr. Gabriel Ofori Boateng, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.86 from the BSc Computer Science programme, delivered a speech on behalf of the entire graduating class, reflecting on their collective journey of perseverance, personal growth, and resilience. He highlighted how setbacks and uncertainties shaped them into stronger individuals, drawing on lessons from Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, and Malala Yousafzai to emphasize the power of rising after failure, pursuing passion, and using time meaningfully. Celebrating the transformative experiences at SDD-UBIDS, he acknowledged the guidance of dedicated lecturers as well as the support of families, mentors, and peers who contributed to their success. Speaking for all graduates, he urged his colleagues to embrace lifelong learning, courage, integrity, and innovation as they step into a world that needs ethical leaders, problem-solvers, and compassionate agents of change.
Representing the President, Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister for Education, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education. He noted that SDD-UBIDS holds a special place in Ghana’s higher education landscape and highlighted key interventions, including the “No Fees Stress Policy.” He assured that Government would work to ensure completion of all outstanding projects and announced a GHS 50 million national Research Seed Fund from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support sustainable research across the country. Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, presented the overall best graduating student award to Mr. Mr. Gabriel Ofori Boateng.
Notably, among the graduating class was the Director of University Relations, Mr. Fidelis Zimberi Tang, who was awarded the PhD in Social Administration.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of Special Prizes and Awards to outstanding graduates for their exemplary academic and leadership performance.