By: Adiza Bawa
President Akufo-Addo has urged Technical Universities in the country to develop innovations that will create employment opportunities for the youth.
He said it is always essential to equip the youth with the needed skills for development.
Speaking at the annual Applied Research Conference in Accra, President Akufo-Addo urged applied research directorates in technical universities to focus their research work on critical development issues intended to improve economic problems of the country.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie urged academic institutions to research critical developmental issues for the socio-economic transformation of the country.
The President observed that the COVID-19 pandemic had necessitated the need for countries to develop modern technologies and innovations to address issues confronting them.
The Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities of Ghana, is a platform for researchers to discuss basic and most important scientific, technical, innovative and entrepreneurial research issues, share the results of recent research findings, make new or renew friendships, and work together to develop new chapters in applied research towards the fight against poverty, hunger, malnutrition and disease burdens in Africa and beyond.
The conference was also intended to provide opportunities for departments and faculties in Technical Universities to exhibit their innovative products to the general public.
The 1st conference was convened in Ho, by Ho Technical University in 2019. It aims specifically at bringing together participants from academia, business, and other stakeholders interested in the interplay between entrepreneurial education and sustainable economic development.
It is a forum for researchers and practitioners alike. Thus, the event is a response to the popular request to build bridges of communication between the worlds of education and business.
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie tasked heads and stakeholders in the technical field to focus on training more students in critical development issues such as sanitation, poverty alleviation and innovation for industrial development.
Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Mrs. Rita Dickson said without innovation, businesses cannot survive competition and business environments.
She noted that for a nation to attain the status of a developed country, conscious and physical efforts must be made towards industrialization with the support of enabling government policies.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs. Gifty Twum Ampofo appealed to Ghanaians to reposition their minds that government will create jobs for them and rather resort to acquiring TVET skills for their own well-being.
She indicated that financing of the various technical universities, second cycle institutions and junior high schools with equipment and new blocks for vocational learning will boost interest in TVET across the country.
Speaking at the second Annual Applied Research Conference in Accra, Mrs Twum Ampofo was confident that most students venture into technical institutions not because they failed their courses in school but because they have the desire to venture into acquiring skills in TVET.
She called on industries to support the training of students who embark in internships in order to improve their efficiency.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the ATU, Prof. Samuel Nii Odai, said research should be part of “our culture” and for that reason the ATU had established a fund to help the researchers to team up with industries to come up with innovative ideas.
Awards were given to deserving Technical Universities.
Sunyani Technical University has been chosen for the next annual Applied Research Conference scheduled to take place in 2024.
