The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has commended the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) for its remarkable resilience and growth, describing the institution as "a tremendous blessing" to the Upper West Region and Ghana. Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Congregation of the School of Law and Special Graduation of the School of Graduate Studies on July 4, 2026, Speaker Bagbin recalled his long-standing association with the university, from its difficult beginnings to its emergence as a competitive academic force. He notably arrived with law books as a personal gift to the Faculty, promising further discussions with the Governing Council on additional support. The Speaker used the occasion to update graduands on the passage of the Legal Education Reform Act, 2026 (Act 1170), which breaks the monopoly of the Ghana School of Law and allows accredited universities to mount a one-year Bar Practice Program. He threw his weight behind UBIDS becoming one of the five accredited institutions, declaring, "I cast my vote for UBIDS. It is, after all, the premier Law School in the North." On infrastructure, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the university's challenges, including inadequate teaching facilities and accommodation, but assured the community that government efforts to complete stalled projects would change the face of the campus within two years. In a stirring conclusion, Speaker Bagbin encouraged graduands to embrace discipline, resilience, and ethical leadership, urging them to use their knowledge for community and national development. He also revealed ongoing efforts to establish a Medical School at UBIDS, including a partnership with the Medical University of Ajman in the UAE and the installation of six new dialysis machines at the Upper West Regional Hospital. "Tough times do not last. Tough institutions do," he said, saluting the university’s instinct for progress. "UBIDS, you will rise and shine and shine."