President John Mahama has received an honorary doctorate from Russia’s RUDN University in Moscow, using the occasion to call for stronger academic cooperation between Ghana and Russia to expand opportunities for young people.
The honour was conferred on the President at the university, also known as Patrice Lumumba University, where he studied as a postgraduate student nearly four decades ago.
Reflecting on his return to the institution, President Mahama said the visit evoked memories of his time there and underscored the enduring value of international educational partnerships.
He 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.
The President also expressed gratitude to the Russian government for providing scholarships to Ghanaian students and sustaining educational cooperation with Ghana.
He said closer collaboration between universities in the two countries could facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research and professional training in critical fields such as engineering, medicine and energy.
President Mahama emphasised that education remained central to Ghana’s development agenda, arguing that efforts to expand access must go hand in hand with improvements in 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.
He urged educational institutions to equip graduates with the knowledge, critical-thinking skills and practical capabilities needed to address the challenges facing their societies.
The President also invoked 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 of African visionaries who challenged the continent to pursue dignity, sovereignty and genuine independence.
“Our responsibility as present-day African leaders is to give practical expression to that aspiration of our forebears,” he said.
According to him, that responsibility must be demonstrated through the quality of education delivered, the strength of public institutions and the opportunities created for the younger generation.
President Mahama 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.
Addressing students, he encouraged them to make the most of their academic opportunities, remain receptive to different 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.
President Mahama expressed hope that the deepening relationship between Ghana and Russia would open further educational and professional opportunities for young people.
He said the ultimate measure of academic achievement should be its contribution to society, stressing the importance of translating knowledge and skills into meaningful service to humanity.