UEW Vice-Chancellor Commends Public Lecture Team, Outlines Ambitious Plans for Annual Series
The University of Education, Winneba’s (UEW) 2025 Public Lecture Series has been hailed as a massive success, contributing to academic excellence and intellectual engagement.
In a heartfelt address to members of the Organising Committee during a post-event interaction, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, UEW Vice-Chancellor, expressed profound appreciation to the team behind what he called a “perfectly executed” academic gathering.
The lecture series, he revealed, was a long-standing vision he hoped would spark intellectual dialogue and rebrand the university as a beacon of knowledge creation in the sub-region.
“Our food in academia is knowledge—and the creation of it. Academic freedom is not about demonstrations or resistance. It is about challenging the status quo and generating new ideas to transform society,” Prof. Mitchual remarked.
He commended the committee for not only bringing this vision to life but also for mobilising significant resources and achieving wide media coverage. “People asked how we pulled this off, and I point to the dedication of the team,” he said, adding that the series was even aired on national television, showcasing UEW to a broader audience.
Moving forward, the Vice-Chancellor tasked the team to begin preparations for the next edition, emphasising the need for innovation and sustainability. He proposed that subsequent editions be self-financing and suggested monetising lecture content via platforms like YouTube. “If this year’s team could raise such impressive resources, I believe next year can be even bigger,” he asserted.
Prof. Mitchual proposed deepening the institutionalisation of the event by involving district-level committees and formally honouring each year’s organising team with commemorative plaques. “These symbolic gestures may outlive monetary rewards,” he remarked, a sentiment that drew enthusiastic support from the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frimpong Kaakyire Duku.
Prof. Duku underscored the power of symbolic recognition, emphasising its lasting motivational impact. “While money fades, a plaque endures,” he noted. “Each time I see my name at the Central Campus amphitheatre, I am reminded of the legacy I helped build. That kind of recognition speaks far beyond words—it inspires continued service.”
Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, the Committee Chair, thanked the management for their trust and support and revealed that the programme was well received across and beyond campus. “We started on time, ended on time, and received overwhelming attendance—even from uninvited but enthusiastic members of the public,” she said.
She also confirmed that documentation of the event was underway, with a full report and documentary in progress.
Reflecting on the event's success and its future, Prof. Mitchual concluded:
“Silver and gold we have not but out of our hearts we say, thank you. Let’s keep lifting the name of UEW higher.”
