The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asnatehene has charged graduates to be responsible and useful citizens in their communities. He said the society looks up to them for social development and therefore it was important that they exhibit a very high sense of responsibility so that they win the confidence of the people. Otumfuo gave the advice during the first session of the 44th congregation ceremony held for the College of Art and social Sciences. The first batch of graduates are students who have completed their four-year degree programmes at the departments of Economics, Geography and Rural Development, Sociology, Social Work, and Tourism and Culture. His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said as proud Ghanaians, it is their responsibility to give back to society and their families. He advised the graduates to embrace the nine core values of success - which are honesty, integrity, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, good judgment and sportsmanship. Dr. Ato Essuman in his motivational speech stated that education prepares individuals to take up leadership positions by inculcating good values in them. Also, he said as fresh graduates they are about to enter the real world of evil and hypocrisy, therefore having gone through KNUST they are the machinery for social change. Dr. Ato Essuman noted that although there is the challenge of finding decent jobs in a depressed economy such as Ghana’s, there exist opportunities that need to be explored. He advised the graduates to network with their colleagues and others in order to increase their chances of securing jobs. Dr. Essuman advised the graduates to be humble, in spite of their academic achievements; he said “life is not all about qualifications, your class may not determine the job you get; respect those who helped you to attain this height,” he stressed. He encouraged them to know that they are the only ones who can control their lives, saying “life is how you make it and everything is possible if only you believe in yourself”. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. K.K. Adarkwa, congratulated the graduates on their first major educational achievement in their lives. He said the world is full of uncertainties and tasked them to position themselves in the ever-increasing challenging environment. Prof. Adarkwa further challenged the graduates to expand their horizon through continuous learning and post-graduate studies. In all 667 students were presented for graduation. Out of this number, 25 students had first Class degrees, 320 with Second Class degrees (Upper Division), 284 with Second Class Degrees (Lower Division) and the remaining 38 are going home with Pass Degrees. In a related development, the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Prof. Kwesi Kwafo Adarkwa, has urged gradates to stay in the country to help in its developmental agenda. Prof. Adarkwa made this statement during the second day of the 44th congregation ceremony of the University for the departments of English, Modern Languages, Religious Studies, History and Political Science of the College of Social Sciences. Prof. Adarkwa said that the nation has invested a lot in their education and given them the requisite skills to be successful in the corporate world and in life, and it would therefore be patriotic if they stay in the country to pay back their dues rather than leave with the primary objective of seeking greener pastures elsewhere - and to the disadvantage of the very country that supported their education. He said although they are graduating at a time when the world is characterised by intense competition, shrinking resources, lay-offs, down-sizing, mergers and environmental degradation, they have received education at the number-one university in Ghana - which should put them ahead of others to excel. He therefore encouraged the graduating students to make good use of the unique education they have obtained at KNUST to deal with daily situations that will come their way, saying "you have received a solid educational background to enable you pick up the rudiments and work-ethics wherever you find yourself." The University is presenting 331 students for graduation. The number comprises 7 with First Class degrees, 197 with Second Class Degrees (Upper Division), 125 with Second Class degrees (Lower Division) and the remaining 2 with Pass Degrees. Source: BFT