The Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called on industry leaders to intensify their engagement with academic institutions, invest in research and support innovation hub to drive sustainability development in the country.

She emphasised the critical role of collaboration between the private sector and academia in harnessing the county’s human capital and technological potential.

The Vice President made the call when addressing the 10th graduation ceremony of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani under the theme, “Embracing Excellence in Innovation for an Impactful Sustainable Future: The Technologian Perspective.”

A total of 2,336 graduates were conferred with certificates for the 2024/25 academic year.

The graduating class comprises 16 Doctor of Philosophy recipients, more than 18 Master’s degree holders, 1,867 Bachelor of Science degree recipients, and 235 diploma awardees.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that the theme emphasised the need to combine technical skills with ethical responsibility to guide creativity with humility.

She explained that a sustainable future required technologies designed for local realities, technologies that are affordable, resilient, sustainable, and appropriate for the communities, which included, energy systems that expanded access while protecting the environment, and resource management that balanced economic growth with ecological stewardship.

She stressed that relevant education had the power to transform societies and advocated for investment in knowledge creation, energy systems, natural resources managers, and environmental conscious businesses.

She advised the graduates to use their skills to innovate responsibly and to support others, emphasising the importance of creating partnerships that broaden the scope of solutions, noting that the country needs their ideas, energy, and dedication.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged the graduates to uphold integrity, courage, and resilience in the face of challenges, saying the importance of discipline, determination, and service in achievement of long-term impact.