Regional Maritime University to hold alumni homecoming
The Regional Maritime University (RMU) on Wednesday launched its maiden alumni homecoming and fundraising event in Accra, which begins from Monday September 28, to Sunday October 4.
The homecoming is on the theme “Promoting the Contributions of RMU towards Maritime Education and Training in the Sub-region,” .
Professor Elvis Nyarko, the Vice Chancellor of RMU, at a press conference said: “Alumni are the heart of every university and so during my installation as Vice Chancellor on June 6, 2015, I indicated that alumni relations will be a top priority in my administration.
“Our alumni, our strength will be our tagline to signify the critically important role the alumni will play in advancing the university’s vision and mission.”
He said alumni are an institution’s most loyal supporters, often generating invaluable word-of-mouth marketing among their social and professional networks, and are often well placed to offer practical support to students starting their careers.
He said this was the reason RMU’s Management had taken a decision to properly position their alumni to play its invaluable role and also contribute its quota towards the university’s progress.
The Vice Chancellor noted that since 1958, RMU had trained many prominent seafarers working all over the globe.
“It must be placed on record also that RMU was the first Maritime Educational Institution in Africa to produce women Master Mariners and even one of them, Captain Beatrice Vormawor, was one of the very first females to captain a ship,” he said.
According to him the homecoming was therefore being used to recognise their illustrious alumni and to also make a passionate appeal to them for support in areas such as constant career counselling to help students, and award of scholarships and bursaries to deserving students.
Others are equipping students and staff libraries, funding of projects and research works through grants and linking of their faculties, departments and the university with international agencies for material and financial assistance.
He pointed out that the event kick-started with courtesy calls on stakeholders such as former President J. A. Kufuor, during whose tenure RMU was upgraded to a degree awarding institution.
He however, explained that Management was still looking forwarding to paying a courtesy call on former President J. J. Rawlings.
Other institutions RMU Management paid courtesy calls on are the Ghana Maritme Authority, Seaweld Engineering, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Navy, Petroleum Commission and Dangote Cement Limited, with the aim of forging collaborations and creating awareness of the historic homecoming and fundraising event.
Activities lined up for the week-long event include: World Maritime Day Celebration, Full Parade of Cadets, Commissioning of Oil and gas facility, Departmental and Photo Exhibition, Job Fair and visit to campus by junior high schools students on Monday, September 28.
On Tuesday, September 29, Rear Admiral G. M. Biekro, Chief of Naval Staff will deliver a public lecture on the topic “The Spate of piracy and armed robbery at sea and its impact on the Maritime Industry: The Role of Maritime Educational Institutions”.
Wednesday, September 30, will be Alumni Day, during which there will be activities including games and sports, interaction with current students, and open forum with the Vice Chancellor.
Source: GNA