Modjaben Dowuona was a Ghanaian educationist and public servant.[1] He was the first Registrar of the University of Ghana,[2] and also served as Ghana's Commissioner of Education (Minister) from 1966 to 1969.[3][4][5]
Dowuona was born at Osu on 11 January 1908.[6][7] His father was Solomon Noi Dowuona and his mother was Theodora Naa-Lomotso Dowuona, all of the Osu Royal Family in Accra.[6] Dowuona was named "Annan" eight days after his birth.[6] The name, according to Ga custom, is given to the fourth successive male son of a couple.[6] His family was in Calabar, Nigeria,[8] before his first birthday when his grandfather wrote to the family asking for his name to be changed to "Modjaben" (what sort of blood).[9] According to his grandfather, every fourth male born child had passed on during their infancy based on his research into the family's history.[9] In his grandfather's opinion, an odd name could prevent the spirits from taking his life at his infancy.[9] Dowuona entered Thompson's Kindergarten School at Osu in 1909.[6] There, he was baptised as Theophilus Albert Modjaben Dowuona.[6] He later dropped the Christian names while at Oxford University, in an attempt to Africanise the name.[6] Dowuona proceeded to St. John's School at Nsawam and later moved to the Scottish Mission Primary School also at Nsawam.[10] In 1920, he enrolled at the Scottish Mission (Presbyterian) Middle School (now Osu Salem School, Scottish missionaries took over the supervision of Presbyterian schools in the Gold Coast after the World War I).[7][10][11] With a year to complete his primary education, Dowuona was moved to CMS Grammar School, Freetown, Sierra Leone where he had his secondary education.[7][12] He graduated the school in December 1926 with his school certificate and exemptions from the University of London Matriculation and the Oxford University Responsions. In January 1929 he entered Achimota College to study for his Intermediate bachelor's degree, there he was the first to be awarded the Achimota Council scholarship to study at the University of Oxford.[7] At Oxford (St. Peter's College, which was then St. Peter's Hall), he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics.[7] He graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1934 and pursued a one-year postgraduate certificate in Education which he obtained from the University of London Institute of Education in 1935.[7] In 1948, he was awarded his master's degree from Oxford University as part of an extra mural program which was being run by the Gold Coast Government on an experimental basis.[13]
Careeredit
Dowuona taught in various schools between 1928 and 1946.[14] From 1945 to 1948, he was the deputy warden and lecturer at Achimota College.[14] He was appointed Registrar of the University of Ghana in 1950, and consequently became the first Registrar of the university.[2][14][15] He served in this capacity until 1961.[14] He later joined the staff of Ahmadu Bello University as Registrar of the university until his political appointment in 1966.[14][15][16] Dowuona served as Ghana's Commissioner for Education (Minister for Education) from 1966 to 1969.[3][17][18][19] At the inception of the Second Republic later in 1969, he was appointed the Chairman of the National Commission for higher education.[3][20] He held this post until 1971.[3] He died in November 1991.[21]
^West Africa. West Africa Publishing Company Limited. 1992.
^ abVieta, Kojo T. (1999). The Flagbearers of Ghana: Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians. Ena Publications. ISBN978-9988-0-0138-4.
^ abcdAgbodeka, Francis (1998). A History of University of Ghana: Half a Century of Higher Education (1948-1998). Woeli Pub. Services. ISBN978-9964-978-56-3.
^Ghana Official Handbook. Information Services. 1968.
^Towards Civil Rule in Ghana. State Publishing Corporation. 1968.
^ abcdefgVieta, Kojo T. (1999). The Flagbearers of Ghana: Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians. Ena Publications. ISBN978-9988-0-0138-4.
^Jones-Quartey, K. A. B. (1972). Education and Revolution. Ghana Universities Press.
^West Africa. West Africa Publishing Company Limited. 1992.
April 07, 2024
modjaben, dowuona, ghanaian, educationist, public, servant, first, registrar, university, ghana, also, served, ghana, commissioner, education, minister, from, 1966, 1969, commissioner, educationin, office, 1966, 1969appointed, byjoseph, arthur, ankrahpreceded,. Modjaben Dowuona was a Ghanaian educationist and public servant 1 He was the first Registrar of the University of Ghana 2 and also served as Ghana s Commissioner of Education Minister from 1966 to 1969 3 4 5 Modjaben DowuonaCommissioner of EducationIn office 1966 1969Appointed byJoseph Arthur AnkrahPreceded byKwaku BoatengSucceeded byWilliam Ofori AttaPersonal detailsBorn 1908 01 11 January 11 1908Osu Gold CoastDiedNovember 1991 1991 12 aged 83 NationalityGhanaianAlma materSt Peter s College OxfordUniversity of London Institute of EducationProfessionTeacher Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Awards and honours 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editDowuona was born at Osu on 11 January 1908 6 7 His father was Solomon Noi Dowuona and his mother was Theodora Naa Lomotso Dowuona all of the Osu Royal Family in Accra 6 Dowuona was named Annan eight days after his birth 6 The name according to Ga custom is given to the fourth successive male son of a couple 6 His family was in Calabar Nigeria 8 before his first birthday when his grandfather wrote to the family asking for his name to be changed to Modjaben what sort of blood 9 According to his grandfather every fourth male born child had passed on during their infancy based on his research into the family s history 9 In his grandfather s opinion an odd name could prevent the spirits from taking his life at his infancy 9 Dowuona entered Thompson s Kindergarten School at Osu in 1909 6 There he was baptised as Theophilus Albert Modjaben Dowuona 6 He later dropped the Christian names while at Oxford University in an attempt to Africanise the name 6 Dowuona proceeded to St John s School at Nsawam and later moved to the Scottish Mission Primary School also at Nsawam 10 In 1920 he enrolled at the Scottish Mission Presbyterian Middle School now Osu Salem School Scottish missionaries took over the supervision of Presbyterian schools in the Gold Coast after the World War I 7 10 11 With a year to complete his primary education Dowuona was moved to CMS Grammar School Freetown Sierra Leone where he had his secondary education 7 12 He graduated the school in December 1926 with his school certificate and exemptions from the University of London Matriculation and the Oxford University Responsions In January 1929 he entered Achimota College to study for his Intermediate bachelor s degree there he was the first to be awarded the Achimota Council scholarship to study at the University of Oxford 7 At Oxford St Peter s College which was then St Peter s Hall he studied Philosophy Politics and Economics 7 He graduated with his bachelor s degree in 1934 and pursued a one year postgraduate certificate in Education which he obtained from the University of London Institute of Education in 1935 7 In 1948 he was awarded his master s degree from Oxford University as part of an extra mural program which was being run by the Gold Coast Government on an experimental basis 13 Career editDowuona taught in various schools between 1928 and 1946 14 From 1945 to 1948 he was the deputy warden and lecturer at Achimota College 14 He was appointed Registrar of the University of Ghana in 1950 and consequently became the first Registrar of the university 2 14 15 He served in this capacity until 1961 14 He later joined the staff of Ahmadu Bello University as Registrar of the university until his political appointment in 1966 14 15 16 Dowuona served as Ghana s Commissioner for Education Minister for Education from 1966 to 1969 3 17 18 19 At the inception of the Second Republic later in 1969 he was appointed the Chairman of the National Commission for higher education 3 20 He held this post until 1971 3 He died in November 1991 21 Awards and honours editAwarded an MBE in 1951 13 Received a Coronation Medal in 1953 13 Honorary doctorate degree LLD conferred on him by Ahmadu Bello University in 1967 13 References edit West Africa West Africa Publishing Company Limited 1992 a b Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 a b c d Agbodeka Francis 1998 A History of University of Ghana Half a Century of Higher Education 1948 1998 Woeli Pub Services ISBN 978 9964 978 56 3 Ghana Official Handbook Information Services 1968 Towards Civil Rule in Ghana State Publishing Corporation 1968 a b c d e f g Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 a b c d e f New Ghana 1966 Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 a b c Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 a b Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 Miescher Stephan F Miescher Stephan 2005 Making Men in Ghana Indiana University Press ISBN 978 0 253 21786 8 Vieta Kojo T 1999 The Flagbearers of Ghana Profiles of One Hundred Distinguished Ghanaians Ena Publications ISBN 978 9988 0 0138 4 a b c d New Ghana 1966 a b c d e New Ghana 1966 a b Overseas Challenge Ministry of Overseas Development 1965 Akyeampong Henry Kwasi 1967 Tributes to Dr J B Danquah State Publishing Corporation Ofori Henry 1969 Daily Graphic Issue 5 754 April 1 1969 Graphic Communications Group Ghana News Embassy of Ghana Ghana Today 1961 Jones Quartey K A B 1972 Education and Revolution Ghana Universities Press West Africa West Africa Publishing Company Limited 1992 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Modjaben Dowuona amp oldid 1193899442, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
