Southshore University launches innovation-led African Sovereignty
Chairman of the Governing Council of Southshore University College, Professor Felix Nikoi Hammond, has described the institution’s transformation from Dominion University College to Southshore University College as a historic turning point which aims at repositioning African higher education for global relevance, innovation and sovereignty.
He said the rebranding from Dominion to Southshore University College goes beyond a change of name or logo, representing a fundamental shift in the philosophy of African education from passive consumption of global knowledge to active creation of sovereign innovation.
He stressed that Africa must no longer be a peripheral player in a world rapidly transitioning from traditional resource-based economies to digital, data-driven and artificial intelligence-led systems.
"The global economy has pivoted from soil to silicon, from resource extraction to computational intelligence. Africa can no longer afford to be a passenger. By the grace of God, we move beyond being a transmitter of generic information to becoming a global lighthouse of sovereign innovation," he said.
Grand Launch
Prof. Hammond made the remarks at the grand launch, which signalled a shift from traditional education to innovation-led African Sovereignty at the university’s East Legon campus in Accra last Saturday.
The event, which was held on the theme: “From Africa, a New Light,” marked the official change of the university’s name from Dominion to Southshore University College.
Dignitaries attending included the Otumfuo Manwerehene, Sir Baafuor Dr Ossei Hyeamann Brantuo VI; the President and Founder of Ashesi University, Dr Patrick Awuah; a representative from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Prof. Isaac Boadi, and the Vice Chair of Bible Society of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei, among others.
Identity
Prof. Hammond explained that the “South” in Southshore signified Africa’s identity and leadership role within the global south, while the “Shore” symbolised a point of connection—where African wisdom meets global academic rigour.
According to him, the university was envisioned both as a shore of return, attracting diaspora talent, capital and expertise back to Africa, and as a shore of departure, producing graduates and innovations capable of competing on the global stage.
"This is not merely a name. It is a decodable strategy for African re-emergence within the context of a rising global south.
“The south in the name represents unapologetic statements of origin, Africa and the global south, and our leadership mantle within the global south.
"We proclaim this campus as the shore of return, a landmark for the African diaspora to bring their brilliance, their capital, and their global networks back home to build a world-class future for Africa. But crucially, we also proclaim this campus as the shore of departure.
Southshore is the launchpad," he said.
New era
The President of Southshore University College, Prof. Nicholas N N Nsowah-Nuamah, described the institution’s rebranding and launch as the beginning of a new era built on resilience, academic innovation and postgraduate excellence.
In a recorded address played during the launch ceremony, Prof. Nsowah emphasised that the change of name to Southshore University College represents far more than rebranding, but a renewed vision and purpose.
Value of education
Otumfuo Manwerehene Sir Baafuor Dr Ossei Hyeamann Brantuo VI raised serious concerns about the growing lack of employment opportunities for university graduates in Ghana, questioning the continued relevance of traditional university education if it failed to lead to jobs.
Dr Brantuo VI, who was the chairman for the ceremony, said Ghana urgently needed a new orientation in education, one that responded directly to the country’s unemployment crisis among the youth.
He observed that thousands of senior high school graduates now preferred applying to the military rather than pursuing university education, not out of passion, but because the military offers guaranteed employment.
