The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Alumni Association has inaugurated its Accra Chapter and launched an Alumni Endowment Fund as part of efforts to deepen alumni engagement and mobilise structured support for the University’s growth. The event, held on August 29, 2026, at the British Council in Accra under the theme “Harnessing Alumni Partnerships for Sustainable Development,” brought together UENR alumni, University officials, industry professionals, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, highlighted the University’s growth since its establishment, noting that UENR had expanded from a founding student population of 154 to more than 17,000. He commended the Alumni Association for its continued support and emphasised the importance of sustained engagement as the University continues to grow.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Alumni Endowment Fund, intended to provide a structured avenue for alumni to contribute to the University’s long-term development. Presenting the Association’s plans, the Global Alumni Chairperson, Ms. Janat Issifu, introduced the “11 Ghana Cedis for UENR” campaign, encouraging alumni to contribute GHS 11 on the 11th day of every month beginning in September. The initiative draws inspiration from 2011, the year UENR was established, and seeks to make alumni giving accessible through small but regular contributions.
Delivering the keynote address, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Samuel Fosu Gyasi, urged alumni to look beyond immediate personal benefits when contributing to the Endowment Fund. He described an endowment as a long-term investment in the future, emphasising the importance of contributions that can benefit students, researchers, and the University for years to come.
The programme also featured a panel discussion involving alumni and professionals from different sectors, focusing on the role of alumni networks in advancing universities through mentorship, professional connections, partnerships, and resource mobilisation.
The launch of the Endowment Fund was met with immediate expressions of support. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Asare-Bediako, pledged GHS 5,000 toward the Fund, while the NEIP representative pledged GHS 10,000. Prof. Fosu Gyasi contributed USD 200, and the 2016 graduating group pledged USD 600. Several other individuals and groups also made notable contributions, signalling strong early momentum for the Fund.
The event further saw the inauguration and swearing-in of the executives of the newly established Accra Chapter: Murdock Yeboah, President; Kwaku Fosu Frimpong, General Secretary; Richard Wiafe, Treasurer; Lois Bonsu, Organiser; Sika Siameh, Membership Secretary; and Dora Wepia, Women’s Commissioner.
Together, the Accra Chapter and the Alumni Endowment Fund provide complementary platforms for strengthening the University’s relationship with its growing alumni community: a regional network for professional engagement and a mechanism for channelling alumni contributions toward institutional development. As UENR continues to expand, both initiatives represent a deliberate effort to transform alumni goodwill into lasting partnerships and tangible support for the University’s future.
