The Archbishop of the Cape Coast Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, has urged staff and students of Takoradi Technical University to live truthfully and embrace their uniqueness.

He gave the encouragement while speaking on the theme “The Influence of Spirituality on Academic Performance” at the second edition of TTU’s Library Human Library Series.

Sharing his personal journey, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle emphasized the importance of living authentically, staying true to oneself, and embracing one’s uniqueness.

“You may be the only Bible someone will ever read, so be an authentic one, as authentic as you can be. I believe that is what human life is really about: giving a piece of yourself and being true to who you are and what you believe in. You are awesome and unique. You cannot be repeated, have not been repeated, and will never be repeated, that is a fact,” he emphasized.

Drawing from his own experiences, the Archbishop underscored that the ultimate purpose of life and education is to offer oneself in service to others.

“You are academics in preparation, and one of the greatest gifts you can give is allowing people to appreciate who you are, where you come from, and the responsibilities that arise from that knowledge. Many do not know who they are; that’s why they end up discriminating against and disrespecting others. As a Christian of Catholic parentage, I believe God has planted me in His divine plan. If I am who I am today, it is by the grace of God. I must be grateful for the attributes He has given me and invest them wisely. This, I believe, is the ultimate purpose of education: to receive, appreciate, polish, and share your gifts with God and humanity,” he said.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle highlighted five indispensable components for holistic personal development: obedience, wisdom, stature, relationship with God, and relationship with others. He described obedience as a discipline that students must embrace if they wish to excel academically. On wisdom, he advised students to be versatile and explore knowledge beyond their fields of study.

Regarding stature, he encouraged physical exercise and participation in extracurricular activities to enhance personal growth and appearance. He also urged students to nurture a healthy relationship with both their object of worship and the people around them.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, TTU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Victor Kweku Bondzie Micah, commended the Archbishop’s insights and urged students to embody the five pillars highlighted in the presentation, particularly obedience.

“We have heard a lot from the Archbishop. I encourage all of us to reflect on the five thematic areas he mentioned and be guided by the poem he ended with: ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest, till your good is better, and your better best.’ Let us strive for the best and remain obedient,” he said.

The Human Library initiative by TTU Library continues to promote meaningful conversations between students and inspiring personalities from various walks of life.

After the main session, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle visited an exhibition mounted as part of activities of the inaugural lecture of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Micah.