Former Ghanaian President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has charged business universities in Ghana to adopt the international practice of providing opportunities for academically qualified chief executives to teach in their institutions.

He said adopting such a practice will boost the capacity of Ghanaian universities will facilitate the training of students with the relevant proficiency and skill needed for them to succeed in their various places of work after their graduation.

The former president said this during the graduation ceremony of 11 students of the Nobel International Business School, (NIBS) in Accra, an institution affiliated to the Swiss Business School.

“In recent times, universities education in Ghana had evolved, especially with the introduction of a boutique business school as implemented by NIBS, with its singular aim to train executives to obtain advanced degrees at the doctoral level,” he added.

Such development Mr Kufuor says has exposed the need to have executives who would become an integral part of the faculty in our universities.

Mr Kufuor then charged Ghanaian business universities to increase the relevance of their curricula through the introduction of a new approach that will satisfy academically and at the same time meet the practical needs.

He believes this will bridge the gap between academia and industry.

He also asked the students to apply their knowledge not only to solve real-world problems in their organizations but also provide real-world business and management training for the new generation of students to come.

“As a country, we need trained minds devoid of toxic thinking, ready to create wealth in the country through genuine business. We need graduates trained with authentic leadership principle ready to develop our beloved country Ghana”.

The Executive Dean of the Swiss Business School, (SBS) Dr Bert Wolfs in his message to the graduates, encouraged the graduates to never give up.

“I want to encourage you to use the same spirit that you have shown, the sacrifice you have made, the sleepless nights you have endured, for your next destination. Remember to remain humble” he said.

These 11 graduates were from Ghana, Benin, Canada, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Two females and nine males went through a three-year doctoral program and were honoured with doctoral degree last Saturday. 

Among the graduates was Dr. Ibrahim Awal Mohammed, Ghana’s Minister in charge of Business Development.