Abetifi, March 9, GNA- The Presbyterian University College, has held its first congregation at the Okwahu campus of the University at Abetifi in the Eastern Region.

Fifty-three students out of the 55 students admitted into the University four years ago obtained first class honours, second class upper, second class lower, third class and a pass in BSC Business Administration and BSC/BA in Information and Communication Technology. In an address read on his behalf by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education, President John Agyekum Kufuor said the Presbyterian Church had been a faithful ally of government in providing the manpower needs of the country since it established a primary school in 1843 and a training college in 1948. He said Presbyterian schools used to produce highly disciplined, hardworking and prudent students.

President Kufuor said the nation was looking forward to the University to turn out graduates who would be expects in their respective fields of specialization to enable them compete in the global labour market.

He said the New Education Reform was aimed at producing citizens who would be able to cope with the many varied needs of life and to prepare the younger generation for tertiary education for them to proceed for professional training.

President Kufuor urged the country's universities to design programmes to reflect the general needs of the society and move away from the present limited areas of specialization and to also consult industries and other stakeholders to ensure that their products met the needs of society.

He advised the graduates that they were entering the job market at a time when the national micro economic indicators promised high prospects for economic growth.

President Kufuor said the country needed skills in ICT and business administration and advised personnel in those fields to stay home and apply skills to enhance the country's development.

Professor Kofi Sraku-Lartey, principal of the University, said the educational institution was a fee paying one, opened to all people without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, ethnic origin or gender with campuses at Abetifi, Akuapem-Akropong and Asante Akyem Agogo.

He said the University, which started with 55 students four years ago at the Abetifi campus, could now boast of 770 students with about 650 of them at the Okwahu campus.

Prof. Sraku-Lartey said an outreach centre had been set up to design a framework on rural and community development in the catchment areas of the various campuses and that the University would work with educational institutions outside the country.

He commended the Church, government and individuals for their assistance to the University.

Prof. Sraku-Lartey appealed to individuals and organisations to assist the University to the development its permanent sites to enable it absorb the increasing number of applicants.

The Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II appealed to the people in the area to support the University to enable it to become a centre of academic excellence.

Present at the function were Mr Sam Okudzeto, the Chairman of the University Council, Reverend Frimpong Manso, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Herbert Oppong, the Presbytery Clerk, Minister of Communications, Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim and Mr Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister.