Education
UGANDA: SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL -GULU UNIVERSITY VICE CHANCELLOR
Acholi community send your children to school, the adage that land is the “only wealth in Acholi” is not true. You will be forced to give your land to people who are highly learned.
GULU -UGANDA: Prof. George Openyjuru Ladaa, the Vice Chancellor of Gulu University has appealed to the local community to cease from selling land, saying they should instead earn from selling products got from the land.
Prof. Openyjuru was speaking as the guest of honor during Northern Institute for Business Studies -NIBS graduation ceremony on Friday 16th at the Institute’s main campus in Gulu City.
The academic Don appealed to Acholi Community to send their children to school for the betterment of their future. He says the common Acholi saying that ‘that land is the only wealth in Acholi’ is not true.
“If you have not gone to school that is bad, you are the only one who is going to give your land to them, those who are highly qualified, they will send you to the road.” The Vice Chancellor warned.
Prof. Openyjuru proudly intimates that he is a Professor of long learning, he has been Associate professor for Makerere University, but now a professor of Education at Gulu University.
“I always asked my students, and I want to ask you also to sell those skills. You achieved from higher institution of learning. That certificate always will not feed you, but what will feed you is skill” Prof Openyjuru.
Prof Openyjuru also challenged the graduants not to sit on their skills earned from the Institute, but to rather use them profitably since employers seek to hire highly skilled employees only.
Northern Institute for Business Studies –NIBS held its first ever graduation ceremony on Friday 16th since its opening in 2009.
Since its opening 10 years ago, the Institute has equipped many prominent people in Northern Region with skills in Business, Administration, Management and Communication.
Some of the renowned alumni of the Institute include; Margaret Orik Obonyo, the Northern Region Prison’s Commander, George Aligech, the Proprietor of the Institute who also doubles as the President of Gulu Municipal Development Forum, among others.
I have a story to tell
Margaret Orik Obonyo, the Northern Region Prison’s Commander who graduated with a National Diploma in Business Management moved the congregation with her story when she narrated how she struggled with her studies.
“I am one of the victims of President Amin’s barbaric killings. Amin took my father and we never buried him. I got lost until the prison authority took me and later sent me to school.” Orik narrates her struggles
She revealed that when she joined NIBS, students mistook her for one of their lectures only to realize that she was a student when they saw her attending lectures.
Orik adds that she wanted to abandon studies due to financial hardship and tight schedules from her work place but thankfully, God helped her through.
Ben O. Okwarmio Chairman of Governing Council NIB hailed the graduants for their persistence and hard work, something that has led to their success. He appealed to the graduants to keep their heads up.
“Only one thing will elevate you to greatness, character, with those few remarks, I thank you for listening for me.” Okwarmio urges
Okwarmio says it was their first time to present candidates for graduation and that they are grateful for the support of the government of Uganda.
Bishop Johnson Gakumba of the Diocese of Northern Uganda advised the graduants to create their own job since jobs in Uganda are very few.
Bishop also revealed that after retiring from active Church Ministry, he will open a technical institute to equip young people with hands on skill to enable them become entrepreneurs.
