UBIDS, Dr Hilla Limann Technical University demand more staff, infrastructure as parliamentary committee visits Upper West

Hundred of first-year students at Dr Hilla Limann Technical University in Wa, Upper West Region, were compelled to conduct their orientation under an open walkway due to the university's absence of an auditorium. This is one of several infrastructure issues the institution faces, notably being the only technical university in Ghana without a completed student hostel.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Hamidatu Saaka Dramani disclosed these challenges during a visit by Parliament's Select Committee on Education, urging for increased government funding to enhance facilities and support the university's expansion.

Professor Dramani highlighted that the lack of essential infrastructure is hindering the university's capacity to offer a comprehensive university experience and increase enrollment. She emphasized that financial constraints, while significant, are not the only challenges. The 18-year-old hostel project, which had been dormant for an extended period, is currently under renovation.

Although progress is steady, the university continues to struggle with providing accommodation for its students, many of whom are forced to rent rooms in the local community. The absence of hostel facilities has become a major obstacle in attracting and retaining students who wish to experience campus life. Prof Dramani noted that the university, as the only technical university without a hostel, has consistently advocated for this crucial facility.

Beyond accommodation, students yearn for an environment where they can live, socialize, and learn alongside their peers. The lack of hostel facilities prevents them from experiencing the university atmosphere they desire, and Dr Hilla Limann Technical University hopes to provide precisely that.