Not even the last-minute change of venue, nor the then freshly announced sit-down strike by the Senior Staff Associations across universities in Ghana, nor the signs of rain and thunder threatening to pour out from the skies in the early hours of Friday, July 15, 2022, could stop lovers of academic brilliance from trooping to the Andani Andan academic chamber to listen to the freshest full Professor to emerge from the figurative walls of the University for Development Studies.

When Professor Donkor, Dean of the School of Applied Economics and Management Sciences of the University for Development Studies, the 12th academic staff of the University for Development Studies to have risen through the ranks to become a full Professor took to the stage the amphitheater arrangement of the venue made it possible for him to see all his audience, and for all his audience to see him.

Others who had become professors before him were there in their numbers, including the chairman for the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye was flanked to his left and right by Professor, Felix K. Abagale, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, Mr. Nurudeen I. Abubakar, Prof. Gordana Kranjac, Prof. Stephen Tabiri, Prof. Albert Kojo Quainoo, and Prof. George Nyarko.

Just before the lecture started, a man, clad in an all-white attire walked in and took a front seat at the far end. It was the in-coming Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Seidu Al-hassan, one of those Prof. Samuel Donkor had reserved some space in his lecture to thank for his “encouragement and useful suggestions”.

If support from one’s family is what leads to success, then Prof. Samuel Donkoh has success in abundance. His family was there in their numbers! From his children to his brothers and sisters to his uncles and aunties to his in-laws, nephews and nieces, and family friends, as well as members of the Christ Universal Church – everyone was there including his mother whose eyes shone with pride. No wonder that at the tail end of her son’s lecture, she, perhaps, being the oldest person in the auditorium, was also the first to spring to her feet to give her son a standing ovation amidst loud bouts of clapping.

The cliché “behind everyone successful man, there is a woman” was redefined by Mrs. Ivy Donkoh, Prof. Donkoh’s wife – she neither sat nor stood behind her husband. Instead, she stood beside him as depicted by her carefully chosen seat in the auditorium. She sat to her husband’s right-hand side and supported him throughout the 2-hour lecture with intermittent smiles, nodding of the head and clapping.

Indeed, the general public had come in their numbers to recognize Professor Samuel Donkoh’s promotion from “Associate Professor” to “full Professor”. For those in academia, this lecture promised to provide an opportunity for their new Professorial colleague to showcase his research with a broad audience. The topic was “African Agriculture at a Crossroads, Can Farmers’ Socioeconomic Indicators Give Us Direction?”

Prof. Samuel Donkoh shared important insights and lessons about the world of Agriculture and zoomed into the cultural breakdown as the root cause of the problem of adoption of inappropriate technology.

Prof. Donkoh brought to the fore, issues regarding resource scarcity faced by African farmers, capital constraints, and the harmful effects of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He cautioned that the practice of using harmful chemicals for farming only brings harm to farms, and greatly endangers the environment and food production. He enumerated some key lessons to learn as Africa approaches the crossroads in Agriculture, by first posing a question: “do we continue with the path of the so-called modernization of agriculture, or we go by an improved traditional way?” He further mentioned that the use of appropriate technology is the way to go if African farmers are to find the right direction. 

Prof. Samuel Donkoh called for strong collaborations between academia, policy makers and industry to adopt best practices to manage agriculture and apply scientific and appropriate technology and knowledge to tackle threats to food.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye placed emphasis on the unique role farmers play in Africa’s socio-economic development. He shared perspectives on the activities of farmers, citing their ability to employ hundreds of people and consequent food production. He acknowledged the works of Prof. Donkoh and noted that his research has greatly influenced policy and empowered agrarian communities.

Earlier, while introducing the chairman for the occasion, the Registrar of the University, Mr. Nurideen I. Abubakar emphasized that the University for Development Studies attaches great importance to inaugural lectures and expects every academic who achieves the highest rank in his or her career in the University to deliver an inaugural lecture. He mentioned in particular the rationale behind organizing these lectures.

This he noted, helps to create a wider awareness of the latest developments in the academic disciplines of the University, offers the University an opportunity to recognize and showcase the academic achievements of its staff, as well as enable the Professor to celebrate an important personal milestone with family and friends, and share with colleagues within and outside the College about their research works.
 
The Lecture was attended by Members of Convocation, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Deans, Directors, and members of the University community. Also present were representatives of the Chiefs of Sagnarigu and Dungu.

There were a number of presentations made to Prof. Donkoh to congratulate him.

Story by Ayuba Ibrahim - (University Relations)