Academic City University College, a premium Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematic tertiary institution, has expressed its commitment to fostering an inclusive learning and working environment for its students and faculty community.
According to Prof. Fred McBagonluri, President and Provost of Academic City, the university acknowledges that each individual has a unique history and experiences which can be leveraged effectively for institutional and individual advancement.
“It is critical and everyone’s responsibility to advance the agenda of promoting and protecting diversity by valuing individuals without prejudice, and by fostering an environment on campus that values equity and mutual respect,” he further indicated.
Prof. McBagonluri made this known during the university’s Diversity Day celebration. The theme of this year’s conference was: ‘African and Afro-descendant Cultures for Peace and Sustainable Development’. The one-day event aimed at raising awareness of the importance of equality and inclusiveness.
Additionally, the event provided as a venue for celebrating and appreciating the diverse African cultures and backgrounds expressed through language, food, history, attire, music, dance and literature. Participating in this year’s event were students from the following institutions: Lancaster University Ghana, Webster University Ghana, Wisconsin University, and BlueCrest.
As a university with about 50 percent of its students consisting of non-Ghanaian citizens, Academic City believes that promoting the continent’s diverse cultures is key to ensure unity among the African people, which will significantly contribute to the development of the continent.
Dr. Ransford Antwi, Head of the Social Sciences Department at Academic City, stressed the essential role that diversity plays in bringing people of diverse cultural backgrounds together in one place.
According to him, it was critical for Africans to unify and make use of our variety in order to bring progress to the continent’s economy. “It is up to us as Africans to harness our variety to bring our natural resources and knowledge together in order to ensure that we become a major player in the global economic landscape”, he noted.
William Anosike, President of Academic City Students’ Representative Council, encouraged the students to form constructive relationships, and to take advantage of the experience of their networks in order to advance their academic and professional careers.
