UDS honours three citizens in Tamale

Tamale, Feb. 13, GNA - The University for Development Studies (UDS) on Saturday awarded an honorary Doctorate Degrees to three prominent citizens who had contributed in diverse ways to the development of their people and their institutions.

They are Nab Azantilow Ayieta, Samdem Nab and Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, Mr. Kobina Quansah, first Ghanaian Managing Director at the Barclays Bank and Prof. Samuel Ofosu-Amaah. In a citation, the University described the Sandem Nab who is the oldest reigning paramount chief in Ghana, as "outstanding and visionary leader, believer in promoting development through education and demand-driven initiative, peace maker and an avowed crusader for sustainable development of the environment".

The Sandem Nab was born in the Upper East Region about 1900. He started life as a shepherd and later became a prominent farmer. In 1931, he ascended to the throne as Sandem Nab and paramount chief of the Builsas, a position he has occupied up to date. This feat as the oldest reigning chief has made him one of the most celebrated traditional rulers in the country.

He has also worked tirelessly in the area of community mobilization, precisely, in building the first Native Authority Primary School in Samdema in 1935.

In 1948, he extended his development activities to other Builsa communities, including Chuchiliga, Siniensi and Fumbisi where he mobilized the people through communal labour to put up primary schools. From 1952 to 1976, he spearheaded the struggle for the establishment of the Sandema Middle Boarding School and later the Secondary/Technical School.

Nab Ayieta was he brain behind the planting of trees for enhanced sustainable development in the Builsa communities. The British colonial governments were thus quick to rely on him for the supply of soldiers for the Second World War.

In honour of his immense contribution towards the colonial Army, the governor of the Gold Coast in 1942 called on him to give a word of encouragement to the Regiment that was stationed in Kumasi prior to their departure to the War front in Abyssinia.

Nab Ayieta represented the Gold Coast in 1953 at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

At independence, he was the leading signatory to the irrevocable agreement of Northern Region to join the rest of the Gold Coast for self-government.

He served as the Vice President of the Northern Territorial Council with its headquarters at Tamale. He also became the first Vice President of the Upper Region House of Chiefs 1960.

From 1966-1972, he became the President of the Upper Region House of chiefs, a period when no chieftaincy dispute was recorded in the region. In his response, the Sandem Nab thanked the UDS for the honour done him and called on people in Northern Ghana to take the education of the children seriously to sustain democracy in the country. Nab Ayieta appealed to the government and the people of Dagbon to speed up the processes to get the late Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II buried. Mr. Quansah and Prof. Ofosu-Amaah, thanked the University authorities for the honour done them and advised the graduates, especially the new doctors to be caring in the pursuance of the duties.