Accra, May 17, GNA - The General Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), the church's highest body, in the United States, has honoured Dr Seth Abang Laryea, a Former Vice Chancellor (VC) of Valley View University (VVU).

The honour is in recognition of his immense contribution to the development of education in the Church in Ghana and beyond.

The award ceremony was held at VVU campus at Oyibi, near Accra.

Dr John Wesley Taylor, Associate Director of Education of the GC, said the body decided to confer this Award of Excellence on Dr Laryea because of his great contributions towards promoting education in the church.

He expressed the hope that the gesture would spur the Former VC on to continue to assist in championing the right educational policies and programmes for the sustainable development of education in Ghana.

He said the excellence award was only conferred on a few selected individuals who had satisfied the criteria for excellence.

"Dr Laryea epitomizes two such criteria in that he earned the respect and admiration of all he worked with and led in the innovation and implementation of new educational programmes and tools," Dr Taylor said.

A citation presented to him read: "As the Vice Chancellor, Dr Laryea implemented many innovative programmes, developed new educational tools, exhibited a high dedication to the goals and ideals of Adventist Education, and earned the admiration and respect of students, colleagues, denominational and civic leadership. One of his most remarkable achievements is the turning of the University into a "green" campus, demonstrating his singular commitment to the stewardship of creation, the environment and its natural resources."

Accepting the honour, Dr Laryea said he was happy the church had recognised his contribution in promoting education within and outside the church.

He indicated that his vision and commitment to education had made him openhearted to all activities aimed at ensuring development in the education sector and pledged to assist the church in its mission to offer quality education to the society.

He dedicated the award to all SDA Educators in and outside Ghana who help to grow institutions and to all the staff, students and alumni of the Valley View University.

He urged all and sundry to personally sacrifice and stay committed to their vision and missions to achieve their ambitions.

Dr Laryea has been an Adventist educator for thirty years and served as the longest leader within the walls of the VVU for 18 years.

The accelerated development of VVU began during Dr Laryea's tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University.

He collaborated with the German Ecology Society for VVU to be the first University in Ghana that adopted sustainable eco-friendly concepts in the development of its physical facilities and facilitated in securing facilities at the Adventist Secondary Technical School for use as an extension campus.

In 2008, he received a national award for his contribution to tertiary education in Ghana.