UEW Valedictorian Urges Confidence in Ghanaian Languages, Cultural Renewal and Student Resilience
Mr. Lawrence Gyasi Senior, valedictorian for the 2025 graduating class of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has delivered stirring address to celebrate his cohort’s resilience and challenged Ghanaian language misconceptions.
He urged graduates to step into the world as cultural guardians and creators of new opportunities. He emphasised the importance of confidence in Ghanaian languages and cultures, encouraging graduates to become torchbearers of cultural and intellectual renewal.
Speaking on Thursday, 27th November, 2025, at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre during the First Session of UEW’s 30th Congregation, he described the day as the culmination of years of sacrifice, transformation and the triumph of determined spirits over adversity.
Addressing a distinguished audience at the occasion, Mr. Gyasi expressed profound gratitude for the honour of speaking on behalf of his colleagues. He referred to the ceremony as an unforgettable moment that affirmed the belief that education has the power to shape not only individuals but entire communities and generations.
He acknowledged that the joy felt by the graduating class overshadowed memories of the long nights, academic pressures and the demanding experiences that defined their journey to this point.
Recalling the beginning of their academic journey in 2022, he described how their entry into university life coincided with the UTAG strike which disrupted academic activities and sent students home for over a month. The strike was followed by a challenging transition to virtual learning through the University’s V-Class platform.
The interruptions and the subsequent impact on academic continuity, he said, tested the resilience, patience and determination of the entire cohort. Yet, despite the setbacks, the students adapted, refocused and pushed forward, an early sign of the grit that would later define the class of 2025.
He explained that his confidence in his linguistic abilities was shaken in 2020 when he corrected a colleague’s use of a Twi expression during a news broadcast, only to be dismissed and humiliated. According to him, the incident spurred an inner resolve to study Twi at the University.
Mr. Gyasi described how people questioned his decision to pursue a degree in Twi, insisting that the field offered limited career prospects and was suited only for less capable students. He dismissed this stereotype as deeply misguided and emphasised that studying Ghanaian languages requires high level intellectual engagement, analytical thought and academic discipline.
He revealed that his own early assessments in the programme humbled him, as he scored very low in his first two quizzes. Nonetheless, he refused to be discouraged, drawing from the realisation that excellence is born from intentional effort and consistency rather than natural talent alone.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, he extended their gratitude to all faculties, departments and lecturers across the University for enriching the intellectual development of students and nurturing them into confident, knowledgeable and impactful graduates. He noted also the guidance, encouragement and firm support of administrators of the University.
Mr. Gyasi paid special tribute to parents, guardians, mentors and family members whose sacrifices and emotional investment carried the students through difficult times. He expressed particular appreciation to his twin brother, Lawrence Gyasi Junior and to Mrs. Lydia Dzekle and his extended family, acknowledging the critical role they played in preserving his strength and perseverance.
In a spirited moment, he invited fellow graduands to recognise and celebrate the resilience that had carried them through economic challenges, the global pandemic, demanding coursework, early morning mid-semester examinations, internship pressures, project work, labour-related interruptions and numerous personal struggles. He reminded them never to underestimate their journeys or academic strengths, urging them to acknowledge how far they had come and the historic moment they now shared as graduates of UEW.
The valedictorian encouraged the graduating class to leave the University with a shared identity as “torchbearers from UEW”—individuals who carry knowledge, preserve culture and serve as architects of national progress.
He envisioned a future in which Ghanaian children grow up grounded confidently in their mother tongue, using their linguistic and cultural heritage as a foundation for cognitive development, career opportunities and economic innovation. He argued that indigenous languages should no longer be treated as barriers but rather as powerful vehicles for creativity, identity and prosperity.
Mr. Gyasi expressed hope for a Ghana where proficiency in both local languages and other academic disciplines fuels vibrant industries and cultural economies that uplift communities. He called on graduates to ensure that they do not become strangers within their own cultural spaces but instead become builders of communities who integrate cultural knowledge with modern innovation.
He called for courage, integrity and purpose as the graduating class steps into a world that demands creativity and leadership. He reminded them that they were not only prepared for personal success but also for service to humanity, carrying forward the values and intellectual strength imparted to them by the University of Education, Winneba.
