The University for Development Studies (UDS) has launched series of activities to mark the beginning of the 20th anniversary celebration of the school with the climax in September 2013.

The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakuna, who launched the anniversary at Dungu at the Central Administration of the School said the UDS has for the past 20 years contributed significantly to the human resource needs of the country through the production of quality human resource.

He said an Anniversary Organising Committee would unveil a detail programme of activities that would mark the celebration until September 2013.

Prof Yakubu said among some of the activities of the celebration would be a three-day public lecture to be delivered by Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo from July 25th to 28th 2012.

He stated that Obasanjo would be honoured by the UDS with an honourary doctorate degree on the final day of his lecture series.

Commenting on the achievement of UDS, Prof. Yakubu said the basic objective for the establishment of the UDS was “to encourage interaction between the academic institution and the Ghanaian communities so as to enhance the development not only of Northern Ghana but the country at large.

He said the University had always been in close contact with the rural communities in Ghana.

“The University outreach activities and research has been geared towards identifying and suggesting solutions to the issues of the environment, primary production, conflict resolution, poverty, ignorance and diseases."

Prof. Yakubu said the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme which is a distinctive feature of the UDS had been largely responsible for the success of the school in the attainment of its mandate.

The VC also paid tribute to the founding members of the University saying that the UDS which started with just 40 students and few members of staff in 1993, now has a student population of 21,209 and a staff strength of 1,379.

He said UDS also signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding with other universities for collaboration in staff development, staff and student exchange, joint research activities and curricula development.

A lecturer and an Alumna of the UDS Dr. Raphael Adu-Gyamfi called for more support from government, financial institutions and the alumni to help the university train more people to help tackle developmental challenges at the grassroots.**