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President John Dramani Mahama has reminded teachers of their responsibility to nurture their students to become responsible citizens. �We urge teachers to be dedicated and continue to put the interest of their students first,� he said. According to him, every nation�s achievement is dependent on teachers for which reason those in the profession should rededicate themselves to national service. He reaffirmed his administration�s commitment to improve the welfare of teachers. �Government will continue to do what it is to provide for the welfare of teachers but we also call for your understanding and cooperation as we tackle some of the challenges that confront this nation especially in the sector of the economy,� he said. President John Mahama made these remarks when he addressed the 70th Anniversary as well as the 4th congregation of Bagabaga College of Education in Tamale which coincided with his birthday. Eulogizing his late father, E.A Mahama, a pioneer of the Bagabaga College of Education, President Mahama asked both past and current students to keep the colleges� torch of progress burning. He directed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to construct an ultra-modern auditorium for the college. Principal of the Bagabaga College of Education, Alhaji Adam Zakaria gave a narrative of the college history and said it started with only 16 students in 1944. He conducted a roll call of the first 16 students who were admitted into the college between January and April 1944 including President Mahama�s father, E.A Mahama then known as Mahama Adama. Alhaji Adam Zakaria recalled that the college admitted its first four female students in 1954, two in 1955, seven in 1956 and four in 1957. He said the establishment of the Tamale Women�s Training College in 1958 truncated the admission of women into the college until 1971 when it became a co-educational institution again. According to Alhaji Adam Zakaria, the Bagabaga College of Education Interim Governing Council and the college community decided to use the 70thAnniversary to honour all personalities whose contribution towards the upkeep of the college cannot be undervalued. The college�s modern library with internet facility was named after Ghana�s first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory (Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Library). This was in memory of the late President�s special interest, initiative and drive in making education accessible to the rural poor in Northern Ghana. One of the colleges� cluster of round huts accommodating some of the students was renamed after Reverend Henry Candler, known as Candler House. Accordingly, some of the college streets were named after some distinguished personalities including Abu Wemah, Guuna Montia, T.C Annan and current Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Inusah Fuseini. The colleges� ultra-modern ICT centre was named after President Mahama�s late father now called Mahama Adama ICT centre. Equally, the rehabilitated council chamber was named after Akalifa Seidu now called Akalifa Seidu Conference Hall. On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary, four batches of students graduated including the 3-year Diploma in Basic Education of the regular college programme for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well as the 2-year Diploma in Basic Education graduands of the Untrained Teachers Sandwich (Top-Up) programme. The Bagabaga College of Education community presented a birthday cake to President John Dramani Mahama which was symbolically cut to garnish the occasion.