The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, has held a special congregation dubbed “Founders’ Day Congregation” for 2,072 graduating students among whom are 49 who completed doctorate degrees.

The number of PhDs is the highest in the history of the university at a single graduation ceremony.

The Chancellor of KNUST, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II appealed to the government to create an enabling environment for corporate industry to operate effectively.

This, he believes, will encourage the industry to continue offering support to higher educational institutions in the country, since the government alone cannot adequately fund higher education.

His royal majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the second, said there should be a greater interaction between industries and higher institutions if the country wants to see fast development.

“With ever increasing dependence of industries and businesses on human resources in a knowledge-based economy, universities need to forge relationships with industry and the business world, engaging them in mutually beneficial exchanges of ideas and solutions.”

The KNUST Chancellor stressed on the need to give maximum attention to science and technology education since it is “one of the main drivers behind productivity and a long-term lever for economic growth”.

The vice chancellor of KNUST, Professor William Otoo Ellis, said the university is embarking on a lot of infrastructural projects to meet the increasing number of students.

He added that, KNUST is doing everything possible to remain among the best science and technology universities across the globe.

The Minister of Education, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, said the government will continue to collaborate with academic institutions.

“The government is ready to collaborate with higher educational institutions because they will propose the solutions that are based on sound research in order to solve problems and meet the needs of the nation”.

She added that, it is the “duty of the nation to develop the potential” of its people so that they can take part in socio-economic development.

The Education Minister also called for a closer collaboration between government and institutions of higher learning.

”Universities exist to find solutions to problems and we know that out universities have the capacity to make it happen”.

Honorary degrees were also conferred on seven persons who have over the years contributed immensely to the growth of society and the university.

Zoomlion Ghana Limited and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) were also conferred with corporate awards by the university for their contributions to the university and society.

The Managing Director of Zoomlion, Florence Larbi said the award, given them by KNUST in recognition of their dedication to the service of the country, will further push them to improve on their responsibility of making the nation a clean and better place.