President John Dramani Mahama has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Russia’s RUDN University, also known as Patrice Lumumba University, in Moscow.
The President, who studied in Russia as a postgraduate student nearly four decades ago, described his return to the institution as a nostalgic experience.
In his address, President Mahama welcomed the university’s proposal to establish a Russian-African studies programme and its invitation for Ghana to nominate some of its brightest students for specialised studies.
He also expressed gratitude to the Russian government for scholarships awarded to Ghanaian students and its continued support for educational cooperation between the two countries.
The President said stronger partnerships between Ghanaian and Russian institutions could facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research and professional training in critical fields, including engineering, medicine and energy.
He emphasised that education remained central to Ghana’s development ambitions, stressing the need to expand access while improving the quality and relevance of learning.
“A university qualification should give its holder the confidence to ask searching questions and the ability to solve real-world problems,” he said.
Mahama invokes Nkrumah and Lumumba’s legacy
President Mahama also reflected on the legacies of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, whose name the university bears.
He said the two leaders represented a generation that challenged Africans to pursue a future founded on dignity, sovereignty and genuine independence.
“Our responsibility as present-day African leaders is to give practical expression to that aspiration of our forebears,” he stated.
He added that this responsibility must be demonstrated through the quality of education, the strength of public institutions and the opportunities created for young people across the continent.
The President described RUDN University as a symbol of solidarity and friendship between Russia and countries that emerged from colonial rule.
He noted that the institution’s longstanding educational links with Africa had helped train generations of professionals who returned to their home countries to contribute to national development.
President urges students to uphold integrity
Addressing students, President Mahama encouraged them to make the most of their educational opportunities, remain receptive to diverse perspectives and uphold integrity throughout their professional lives.
“Above all, protect your integrity, the trust of those you serve is a responsibility that no academic distinction can replace,” he said.
He concluded by expressing optimism that stronger relations between Ghana and Russia would create additional opportunities for young people, adding that knowledge acquired at the university should translate into meaningful service to humanity.
