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The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has matriculated 2,301 regular students for the 2025/2026 academic year, marking the first cohort to be admitted under the institution’s new name.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Wa, was the university’s sixth matriculation since its establishment. The event also signified a historic transition following the renaming of the institution by an Act of Parliament in December 2025 from Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies to its current name.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, described the fresh students as pioneers of a new chapter in the university’s development.
“You are the first cohort of students to be matriculated under our new name. You are, therefore, pioneers of this new chapter, and we look to you to be worthy ambassadors of this university,” he said.
Enrollment and gender distribution
A breakdown of admissions shows strong undergraduate enrollment, with 868 diploma students, of whom 52.76 per cent are female, and 1,030 degree students, 43.49 per cent of them female. The postgraduate intake comprises 205 master’s students, 95 PhD candidates and 103 post-first degree law students.
While commending the encouraging female representation at the undergraduate level, Prof. Derbile expressed concern over declining numbers at the postgraduate stage and pledged targeted interventions.
“As a university, we are committed to addressing this gap through mentorship, inclusive policies and gender-responsive academic support. To our female students: you are valued, and we will continue to champion your advancement,” he stated.
Infrastructure expansion underway
With nearly 90 per cent of students residing off campus, the Vice Chancellor underscored the urgent need for expanded accommodation and lecture facilities.
He announced that the university has secured financial clearance to resume stalled GETFund projects and has initiated a Public-Private Partnership arrangement under a Build, Jointly Operate and Transfer (PPP-BJOT) model for a 6.6 million-dollar multipurpose hostel and lecture theatre complex.
The project, for which sod was cut in January 2026, includes a three-storey, 47-room hostel block and a two-storey facility with eight lecture halls.
Call for discipline and integrity
Prof. Derbile urged the new students to uphold discipline and academic integrity throughout their studies.
“Pursue academic excellence with seriousness and intellectual curiosity. Uphold academic integrity, plagiarism and examination malpractice will not be tolerated,” he cautioned.
He also highlighted the implementation of the government’s stress-free fees policy, noting that 1,210 students have so far enrolled under the initiative.
The matriculation ceremony signals a renewed phase for UBIDS as it seeks to consolidate its identity, expand infrastructure and strengthen academic standards under its new name.
Source: Ghana/channel247online.com/RafiqNungorAdams
