The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has organized a commencement lecture to mark the beginning of academic work of the latest public university located at Somanya, in the Eastern Region.

The lecture was on the theme "Securing the Environment-Our Challenge" and delivered by Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, of the Department of Botany, University of Ghana, was attended by members of the academia, traditional authorities, the first batch of students admitted and a cross section of the public.

Professor Oteng-Yeboah in deliverig the lecture charged the University to make an impact on their immediate surroundings by ensuring that their research activities factored into consideration the community within which the school was located.

He said it was one's the attitude towards life that makes life successful and not where one found him or herself, and therefore urged the pioneering students to show positive attitude towards life as they begin their studies.

He said "impunity, immaturity and immorality had become a behaviour, coded in Ghana, underpinned by stupidity and sycophancy" and charged the youth of Ghana who were privileged to have access to education to change that narrative by exhibiting discipline and positive attitude towards life.

Professor Joshua Narh Ayertey, Chairman of the University Council said the commencement lecture was a typical American university procedure, not common in Ghana and marks the beginning of full academic work of the University.

He assured all that every research activity of the University would be based on the environment of the catchment area, to justify the location of the university as well as impact positively on the community.

Earlier, on behalf of the paramount chief of the Yilo-Krobo traditional area, Nene Oklepeme Nuer Anorbaah, Reverend Lawrence Amartey, expressed profound gratitude to the government for keeping faith with the schedule of commencement of the University and assured all of the traditional authorities support.

He also charged the leadership of the University to bring the entire community on board to ensure that the environment reflects the mandate of the university in churning out students who would spearhead the agenda to improve the environment through sustainable development.

Meanwhile, admission is ongoing into various programs of the University for the 2021/2022 academic year.