President John Dramani Mahama has received an honorary doctorate from Russia’s RUDN University in Moscow, formerly known as Patrice Lumumba University, during a visit to the institution where he pursued postgraduate studies nearly four decades ago.
The recognition brought the Ghanaian leader back to a familiar academic environment, evoking memories of his time as a student and reinforcing his call for deeper educational cooperation between Ghana and Russia.
In his address, President Mahama welcomed the university’s proposal to establish a Russian African studies programme and expressed support for its invitation for Ghana to nominate some of its brightest students for specialised academic training.
He also conveyed his gratitude to the Russian government for providing scholarships to Ghanaian students and sustaining educational partnerships with Ghana over the years.
The President said closer collaboration between universities in both countries could expand opportunities for student and lecturer exchanges, collaborative research and professional development across strategic disciplines, including engineering, medicine and energy.
He emphasised that education remained fundamental to Ghana’s development aspirations, arguing that national progress depended not only on widening access to learning but also on improving its quality, relevance and practical value.
“A university qualification should give its holder the confidence to ask searching questions and the ability to solve real world problems,” he said.
President Mahama further reflected on the enduring influence of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, whose name the Russian university once carried and with which it remains historically associated.
He described the two leaders as representatives of a generation that challenged Africans to pursue a future founded on dignity, sovereignty and genuine independence.
“Our responsibility as present day African leaders is to give practical expression to that aspiration of our forebears,” he said, stressing that the vision must be reflected in the standard of education, the effectiveness of public institutions and the opportunities available to younger generations.
The President described RUDN University as an enduring emblem of friendship and solidarity between Russia and nations that emerged from colonial rule.
He noted that the institution’s longstanding academic relationships with African countries had helped educate generations of professionals who returned to their respective nations to contribute to development across different sectors.
Addressing students at the university, President Mahama encouraged them to make the most of their academic opportunities, welcome diverse perspectives and maintain strong ethical standards throughout their professional careers.
He particularly emphasised the importance of personal integrity, warning that academic qualifications and professional distinctions could never replace the confidence and trust placed in individuals by the people they serve.
“Above all, protect your integrity, the trust of those you serve is a responsibility that no academic distinction can replace,” he said.
President Mahama concluded by expressing optimism that stronger educational and diplomatic relations between Ghana and Russia would generate greater opportunities for young people in both countries.
He also called for academic achievements to translate into practical contributions to society, emphasising that the ultimate value of education lies in its capacity to improve lives and advance the welfare of humanity.
