Nigerian-born Ugonna Ukaigwe has emerged overall as the best student of the Masters of Arts course in Gender, Peace, and Security for the 2013/2014 academic year at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Center (KIPTC) in Ghana.
Ukaigwe, a mother and a lawyer by profession, works with a coalition on the rights of free information a project of the commonwealth human rights group. She got distinction in all her core and elective courses to top her class.
Ukaigwe received the award today, during the third convocation ceremony of the institution, which was jointly organized by the Ghana Institute of Professional Studies.
In her remarks, she asserted that no gender is greater than another, hence, there is a need for mutual respect in order to avert crisis in our society.
“We have equal rights and should be given equal opportunities to unleash the potentials that God has given each and every one of us,” Ukaigwe said.
Mr. Amissah Arthur, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, who delivered the keynote address, congratulated the new graduates. He challenged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to achieve peace in Africa.
He said, “we know, the next two years may be challenging for West Africa, as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Gabon will be holding elections in the years 2015 and 2016. It is our task to ensure we manage whatever conflicts which may emanate from these processes, in order to avoid war.”
KIPTC, which commences the academic activities in the year 2003 drew participants from the full spectrum of the peace keeping community. This includes those in the sectors covering, civil, diplomatic, security, and non-governmental agencies
, a commandant of KIPTC, explained the origin of the institution, and praised the Ghana government and the donor partners for this wonderful initiative that gave birth to KIPTC.
“As an illustration of its commitment to, and in order to share its long term experiences in peace support operations, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Ghana approved the plan to establish the international peace training center in May 1998,” Akwa said.
