Work begins on ICT university college

Daily Graphic (pg 11), Mon, May 03/10
Story Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho
WORK has began for the construction of a GH¢3 million Information Communication and Technology (ICT) University College at Adenta in Accra.
The Dignified Life International (DLI) University College (DUC) would focus on awarding scholarships in degree programmes in ICT to identifiable needy, brilliant children who cannot afford the cost of their university education, as well as other students who qualify for admission to the university.
The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by September this year.
The DLI University College, when completed, would be an upgrade of the Michael and Vivien Blair Information Technology Training College (MVBITC) which had been awarding scholarship to hundreds of needy Ghanaian youths each year to acquire world class ICT skills at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), Legon, for the past seven years.
At a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of the first phase of the project, the DUC Chairman and Co Founder, Mr Michael Blair said the establishment of the university college was in appreciation of the blessing his family got from Ghana and Africa through their company, GS Telecom’s investment in Ghana, which is now part of the Vodacom Group.
He therefore, made a lifetime financial commitment on behalf of his family to the university college in order to give scholarships to majority of its students.
At the ceremony, officials from the Gateway Communications Group (now owned by Vodacom), which is one of the major corporate sponsors of the university college, also pledged to continuously support the institution, financially and with equipment.
The ceremony was witnessed by executives of the Gateway Communications Group, Africa’s telecommunication giant and satellite carrier service provider, Mr John Wishart and Mr Holli Worsworth and DUC Founders, Mr Michael Blair and Mrs Vivien Blair, as well as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Certified Institute of Information Technology (ICIIT) UK, Reverend Mawuli Tasiame, and Mr Peter Larson, Vice Chair and Co-founder of the DUC.
Others were a representative from the Ga Traditional Council, some religious and opinion leaders in Adenta and the Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney.