The University for Development Studies (UDS) has been bolstered in its mission to foster development, particularly in rural areas, by receiving fifty-five (55) tablets from the World Food Programme (WFP). Madam Babra Clemens, the country Director of WFP, presented the tablets to the university, highlighting the importance of partnerships in achieving the organization's goals. “At the heart of our mandate to save and change lives is collaboration with diverse institutions, including academia,” Madam Clemens stated. “This partnership with the University for Development Studies through the Directorate of Community Relations and Outreach Programmes (DCROP) aims to leverage the University’s Community Outreach Programme. We seek to collect quality, real-time, and basic data on food systems, emergency preparedness, and response in selected communities across the Northern, Savannah, Upper West, and North-East Regions. The provision of these tablets is part of our efforts to build institutional capacities using technology. We strongly believe that digital technology will enhance the quality of data collection and strengthen capacities.”

Madam Clemens was accompanied by a team from WFP, including Abdul Wahabi Gyamila, Head of Tamale Sub-office and Emergency Preparedness and Response Outcome Manager, Mark Ekiru, Emergency Response Coordinator, Peter Baghr, Policy Programme Officer for Food Systems, Salisu Mohammed, Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Assistant, Abudu Tanko, Logistics Assistant and Nana Abena Dwumah, Business Support Officer as well as Mohammed Amin Abdul Wahab, Communication Assistant.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Management of UDS, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan expressed gratitude for the partnership. “We are happy about this initiative because the University for Development Studies was established purposely for development, particularly rural development, and we are pleased that your outfit is helping us fulfill this mandate,” he said. Prof. Al-Hassan also emphasized the importance of data quality, urging the Community Relations and Outreach Programmes to ensure that the collected data is reliable and actionable. “Data is not data if it is not of good quality. Our students, as has been demonstrated since the establishment of the university, are known for collecting primary data of high quality. We must maintain and improve that standard.”

Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan on behalf of the University, also presented two UDS branded laptop bags and T-Shirts of the Community Relations and Outreach Programmes to Madam Clemens and her team as a token of appreciation from the university community.
Prof Adda Weseh, the Director of Community Relations and Outreach Programmes, promised that the tablets would be well kept and maintained. He said his outfit would soon commence training of students on how to handle the tablets and also ensure that the data generated is of high quality.

The Vice-Chancellor was joined by several university officials, including the Registrar, Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakr, the Director of Finance, Dr. Hardi Shaibu Mohammed, the Director of International Relations and Advancement, Prof. Courage Saba, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Safianu Mahama, and the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Abdul-Hayi Moomen.

Story by: Sumaila Mohammed (UDS Media)