Dr Salifu Asuro named new rector of Tamale Polytechnic
The Governing Council of Tamale Polytechnic has inducted Dr Abdulai Salifu Asuro as the new rector of the polytechnic.
The 52-year old rector is a senior lecturer with PHD in Folklore and double minor in Linguistics and African Studies from the Indiana University, Bloomington in the United States of America.
Some public universities in the country have benefitted from his services, notable among them being the University of Education, Winneba, the University of Ghana, Legon, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi and the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale.
Between 1991 and 2000, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama, Theatre Studies and Linguistics and Master of Philosophy degree in Linguistics from the University of Ghana, Legon.
The new rector is a member of the American Folklore Society. He was a member of the Northern Regional Hockey Association in 2009, National Vice President, Old Ghanascans Association between 2010 and 2012, executive board member of the Ghana Hockey Association, 2010 and a governing council member of the Evangelical Presbyterian College of Education at Bimbilla in 2010.
Dr Asuro swore the oath of office in the presence of the Chairman of the governing council, Dr Seidu Mustapha, who performed the induction ceremony. The ceremony was in line with the Polytechnic Act of 2007 (ACT 745).
Dr Mustapha noted that “for the first time in the history of the polytechnic, we have been able to find a rector from within. I was told Dr Asuro has been with the Tamale Polytechnic for the past 12 years.”
He entreated the new rector to operate an open-door policy and endeavour to work with everybody to move the polytechnic’s agenda forward.
For his part, Dr Asuro acknowledged the onerous responsibility of contributing his quota to help improve on polytechnic education in the Northern Region.
“It is, therefore, my vision to see Tamale Polytechnic become a 21st century institution of excellence, with information technology taking the center-stage in its academic and practical training programmes,” he stressed.
According to the rector, he would facilitate the modification of teaching and learning from the mere “top-down bookish instruction system to one of promising student-centred practical skills delivery where students build confidence in themselves.”
He further explained that he would encourage evidence-based research among students and staff.
The former Rector, Alhaji Dr Yakubu Peligah, urged Dr Asuro to be bold in implementing the agenda and policies he had planned for the growth and development of the polytechnic.
“You definitely would face some resistance from within and outside the polytechnic but approach them with tact, patience and perseverance. You must also tread cautiously and move ahead with determination and firmness of purpose,” Alhaji Dr Peligah advised.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, commended the polytechnic authorities for the peaceful manner in which the selection process was undertaken.
He stressed the importance of polytechnic education in the provision of the requisite middle level manpower needs for the region and the entire country.
He assured the new rector that the Regional Coordinating Council would support his administration to achieve the desired results.
Source: Daily Graphic