President John Dramani Mahama has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), formerly known as Patrice Lumumba University, during a special ceremony in the Russian capital.
President Mahama who completed his postgraduate studies in Moscow nearly forty years ago described his return to the historic institution as a deeply nostalgic experience.
Delivering an address to faculty and students, President Mahama welcomed an initiative by the university management to launch a dedicated Russian-African studies programme.
He also accepted an offer extending invitations to top-tier Ghanaian students to pursue advanced research and specialized training at the university.
Expressing gratitude to the Russian government for providing educational scholarships to Ghanaian youth over the decades, he advocated for deepened bilateral ties between institutions in both countries.
He noted that expanded academic partnerships would foster student and faculty exchange schemes, collaborative scientific research, and capacity-building programmes across core fields such as engineering, medicine, and energy.
Turning to the wider role of higher education in national growth, President Mahama underscored that expanding educational access while elevating academic standards and practical relevance remains critical to Ghana’s development trajectory.
“A university qualification should give its holder the confidence to ask searching questions and the ability to solve real-world problems,” he said.
Reflecting on Africa’s political history, he paid tribute to the enduring legacies of Ghana’s founding father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba, after whom the university was originally named. He pointed out that both visionaries belonged to a generation of leaders who challenged Africans to build a continent anchored on self-determination and dignity.
“Our responsibility as present-day African leaders is to give practical expression to that aspiration of our forebears,” he said, adding that this responsibility must be reflected in the quality of education, the strength of institutions and the opportunities created for young people.
Describing RUDN University as an enduring symbol of friendship and solidarity between Russia and post-colonial nations, President Mahama highlighted how the institution’s long-standing academic links with Africa have produced generations of skilled professionals who returned home to drive national progress.
He urged current students to maximize their learning experience, cultivate broad perspectives, and prioritize strong moral values throughout their careers.
“Above all, protect your integrity, the trust of those you serve is a responsibility that no academic distinction can replace,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana