Accra, April 20, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend urged Muslim academicians to help combat public perception that the content of Islamic education is inadequate to liberate its followers from the grip of poverty, ignorance, squalor and disease. He therefore tasked graduates of the Islamic University College of Ghana (IUCG) in Accra, to go to their roots to help improve on the lot of the vulnerable and marginalised in society, stressing that the cost of ignorance to the accelerated growth of the nation is too high a price to pay.

Vice President Mahama was speaking at the maiden graduation ceremony of the University where 265 students graduated. He expressed satisfaction about the interest being shown by the private sector to provide quality tertiary education to the citizenry. He said the move was inspired by the zeal of government to facilitate the attainment of education for all by 2015 as part of Millennium Development Goals.

Vice President Mahama however warned that government would redraw the accreditation of universities that are operating below the required standards.

He commended the Islamic Republic of Iran for supporting the university in diverse ways since its inception seven years ago. Vice President Mahama advised the graduates to use the knowledge they had acquired to their advantage by not being overwhelmed by the challenges of life.

"Life out there is definitely a lot different from the protected and the sheltered life within the walls of the University. You will definitely meet hard times but you should know that life is full of vicissitudes and no hard times exist forever.

"Do not be overcome by the fear of the unknown."

Dr Gholam-Reza Rahimani, President of IUCG told the graduates that the development of Ghana rests on their shoulders since only Ghanaians could develop Ghana.

Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister who chaired the function condemned the acts of hooliganism among students, which, he said, led to the breakdown of law and order. He said the phenomenon was a problem to the government and called for collective resolve to deal with it.