KNUST Empowers Next Generation Of Women Innovators

KNUST Empowers Next Generation Of Women Innovators. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Engineering Education Project (KEEP) has held a forum on the theme “Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Innovators.”

The event held at the Great Hall of KNUST on Friday, 14th July 2023, featured esteemed guests such as the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson; the Chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Professor Melissa Nobles; the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai; and President of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WiSTEM), Professor (Mrs.) Ibok Nsa Oduro.

The Project Lead of KEEP, Professor Jerry John Kponyo, noted that the purpose of the programme is to provide women leaders in innovation with a platform to share their rich experiences and inspire the next generation of female innovators. He underlined the importance of promoting innovation for Africa to secure its place among the world’s leading economies. To this end, he encouraged young female innovators to persevere in the face of challenges in their quest to become successful innovators in transforming the economies of Ghana and the world at large.

Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, the Provost of the College of Engineering, highlighted the inspiring nature of the programme and its aim to empower and ignite the next generation of women innovators. According to him, innovation plays a catalytic role across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. To underscore the urgency of innovation, he referred to recent data released by the Government’s Statistician, indicating a rise in annual inflation from 42.2% in May to 42.5% in June, largely driven by surging food prices. He, therefore, asserted that innovation is no longer a choice but a requirement for human survival.

Professor Nyarko added that the College of Engineering, recognising the urgent need for innovators, is committed to spearheading discourse through its innovation and research centres to meet the demands of society.

The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson reiterated the mandate of universities to work towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with which the theme is based, particularly, SDGs 9 and 5 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Gender Equality). She emphasised the need to inspire women to explore and contribute to science, technology, and development in the fourth industrial revolution and hoped that the stories of these remarkable women would serve as a source of motivation for the younger generation, encouraging them to become the next wave of female innovators.

Regarding the gender gap in STEAM fields, Professor (Mrs.) Dickson emphasised the University’s commitment to addressing this issue through proactive measures. She highlighted the central role innovation plays in KNUST’s strategic plan and its potential for driving positive change. In particular, the University’s efforts to bridge the gender gap through constructive partnerships and targeted interventions like the STEAM for Girls Policy.

President of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM), Professor Ibok N. Oduro, spoke on the significance of the programme while inspiring young women to find new ideas, fresh energy, and valuable partnerships in sustaining innovation. She acknowledged that innovators’ minds have the capacity to transform society and stressed the importance of understanding the true meaning of innovation for future success. She, therefore, charged young females to take advantage of the programme to network and share knowledge and interests.

Chancellor Melissa Nobles, in her address, declared that there must be a conscious effort to create institutional structures that support innovators, highlighting the fact that ‘innovators are not merely born but created.’ She shared the ways MIT has instituted support for students with innovative ideas, which has lasted for twenty-three (23) years. She urged young female students to seize structured opportunities to become successful future innovators. Professor Melissa also shared her personal journey of rising to the top and emphasised the significance of self-belief even in the face of potential failure. She stressed the importance of collaborating with like-minded individuals who share similar goals.

Chancellor Melissa charged young females to be eager to study in order to build their self-confidence and entrepreneurial spirit and foster their intellectual abilities to become the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. “The world of today and certainly of tomorrow will need innovators, creators, competent, and committed people, and many of these people will come from Africa,” she said.

During the panel discussion, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, shared her personal challenges during the early years of her life and career. She emphasised that in order to succeed as a female innovator and reach greater heights, sacrifices must be made along the way. She highlighted the importance of discipline and effective time management in one’s journey to success. She also emphasised the need to strike a balance between personal and professional responsibilities in order to rise to the top.

The event concluded with an engaging panel discussion with various panellists sharing their personal journeys and the challenges they have encountered as women innovators. The event was highly participated by sixteen (16) Senior High Schools, three (3) Junior High Schools, and members of the Kumasi Technical University’s Women in Engineering Association (WINE) and WINE Ashanti.