Professor Christian Agyare, Vice‑Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, delivered a keynote address at the launch of the 75th anniversary of KNUST’s College of Engineering. The event, themed “Excellence to Eminence: 75 Years of Engineering Education at KNUST,” highlighted the need for Ghana to embrace locally developed engineering solutions.
Agyare stressed that innovations born in Ghana must be adopted by industry and communities to strengthen the country’s technological capacity and earn international recognition. “Our ambition is to see more engineering solutions developed locally and adopted by industry, chosen by communities and recognized beyond our borders,” he said.
The Vice‑Chancellor urged companies to deepen collaboration with universities by investing in research, providing equipment and offering practical training opportunities to students. He argued that such partnerships would bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice while improving productivity and supporting national development.
He also challenged engineering students to build on the College’s legacy by embracing creativity, exploring emerging technologies and developing practical solutions to societal challenges. Agyare warned that technical competence without ethical responsibility could undermine public trust and cause harm.
Ing. Kwabena Bempong, CEO of Associated Consultants Limited, joined the call, urging industry leaders to give young Ghanaian engineers greater responsibilities and leadership opportunities. “Give young engineers real responsibilities early, and let Ghanaian engineers lead the projects that shape this nation. Capacity is built on trust,” he said.
Bempong called on stakeholders to support the College of Engineering Endowment Fund, which would provide laboratories, scholarships and workshops to equip students with the skills and tools required in industry. He added that the goal should be to position KNUST’s College of Engineering as a leading centre for engineering education in Africa.
Both speakers concluded that research should power industry and industry should power the nation, and that the College’s best years could still lie ahead.
Industry and academic leaders will need to act on these calls if Ghana is to realise the full potential of its engineering talent and drive sustainable development.
