Accra, May 27, GNA- Universities in the country have been urged to embrace ecologically friendly principles to help conserve the environment.

Mr. Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, gave the advice at the 13th congregation of the Valley View University at Oyibi near Accra on Sunday.

Mr. Blay said nature was a special gift from God, which must be preserved for the benefit of mankind, adding, "Our generation holds it in trust for us and owes succeeding generations the duty of preserving this heritage for a better life in the future."

Mr. Blay said, that calls for changes in the lifestyles of people, tastes, agriculture and manufacturing and consumer practices as well as handling of "waste".

He said what people termed as waste served as food within the ecosystem and therefore places responsibility on all to learn to redesign, package manufactured products and recycle the remains after consumption in order to avoid environmental degradation. He commended the University for embarking on ecologically friendly projects, adding; "I hope the university will enhance and sustain its focus on the ecology and sustainable and balanced environmental practices which will have far-reaching socio-economic impact on the inhabitants of the environment".

Mr. Blay noted that well educated, trained and disciplined people were major factors in the development of any nation and that the choice of human resource development should be a priority for developing country like Ghana.

He commended religious organizations and private individuals for their roles in the provision of education to supplement and complement government's efforts.

Dr Seth Laryea, President, Valley View University, said the university had form sister-institutional relationships with a number of higher institutions in Germany, Korea, and USA to help serve as a platform towards the strengthening of their programmes and accessing experts that were not available at the university.

Dr Laryea said a team from a sister-institution from Korea would arrive in the country to participate in various programmes that would benefit, not only the University but entire communities.

He said enrollment at the University had increased to 1,745 with an additional 187 enrolled in the distance education programmes, adding, "we are committed to providing education that is not only holistic, but also relevant to our national needs and aspirations". Dr Laryea said the University had taken steps to start an off-campus site at Techiman and hoped to receive permission from the National Accreditation Board to commence a Degree in Nursing programme next semester.

Pastor Samuel Adama Larmie, Chairman of the University Board of Trustees said the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, as partners in development, had been deeply involved in education at all levels, health delivery and improvement of social lives of people in the country. Pastor Larmie said the University was committed to providing quality education that trains the mental, physical, moral and spiritual faculties of all who pass through it and that was the surest way of producing faithful, well disciplined and God fearing workers for the nation.

"We are determined to keep improving this university and the services it renders through our graduates to societies within and outside Ghana," he said.

Pastor Larmie said the University was committed to freedom of Worship as enshrined in the Constitution of the country and that students would continue to enjoy it to help contribute their quota for an accelerated national development.

In all, 157 students graduated with degrees in Bachelor of Business Administration, Computer Science, Theological Studies and Religious Studies with Mr. Ebenezer Quaye being adjudged the overall best student.