Speaking at the hybrid webinar for the 10th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week 2024, Director-General Prof. Francis Davis announced that the plan, which aims to include 40% female participants, will be supported by funding from UNESCO partners and other skills development agencies.

“TCC-CIMET proposes to establish a transformative program designed to bolster engineering design capabilities among undergraduate students.

“Through strategic partnerships and innovative training methodologies, we seek to equip the next generation of engineers with the essential skills and tools required for effective design and problem-solving.

“This initiative will fill existing skill gaps and foster a culture of innovation within the engineering communities in the sub-region,” he said.

The 10th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week, under the theme “Innovative Infrastructure Solutions for a Sustainable Africa: Empowering Youth Initiatives and Integrating Indigenous Engineering Principles to Shape a New Paradigm,” seeks to inspire young engineers and students to develop innovative solutions for real-life problems.

The Country Director for UNESCO-Ghana, Mr. Edmund Moukala, urged the youth to combine indigenous and modern practices in finding solutions to problems.

“We can create a new engineering paradigm that prioritizes human needs in the natural environment. As we look towards the future, let us not forget the wisdom of the past; indigenous African engineering has much to offer in terms of sustainable solutions.

By exploring and integrating these time-tested methods into modern engineering, we can create technology that serves humanity and safeguards the planet,” he said.

The Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Ibadan applauded TCC-CIMET for its initiatives to equip students and young engineers with the requisite skills and support to address real-world problems.

The hybrid webinar saw participation from several universities, including the University of Ibadan, Fourah Bay College, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Innovation Centre (KNUST), University of Ghana, UNESCO, and others.

The Director-General, Prof. Francis Davis says the digital technology and innovation hub will create the enabling environment to nurture creativity among the youth.

“Recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of engineers, TCC is embarking on a transformative initiative. We believe that making engineering attractive to the younger generation is key to building a sustainable future.

“In this light, TCC is creating a ‘maker space’, an innovation center focused on digital solutions. This center will serve as a dynamic hub where students can explore, experiment, and innovate in a collaborative and creative environment,” he explained.

Prof. Davis made this statement at an event to mark the World Engineering Day at the KNUST College of Engineering.

The World Engineering Day 2024 is under the theme: “Engineering solutions for a sustainable world”.

The event was in collaboration with the KNUST College of Engineering and the Ghana Institution of Engineering.

The event saw the participation of selected schools from the Ashanti region.

Ing. Yaa Obenewaa Okudzeto who represented the president of the Ghana Institution of Engineers stressed the Institutions focus on sustainable development.

“This demonstrates our commitment as an engineering institution to the concept of sustainability and to contribute to the provision of resilient infrastructure.

“This, we believe, it’s an indispensable foundation for achieving sustainable development,” she said.

Chief programme officer at the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Apollonius Asare assured of UNESCO’s resolve to create “supportive environment for young engineers through the various UNESCO fellowships in engineering”.  

He added: “We will continue to pursue UNESCO’s mission in Ghana by actively collaborating with stakeholders to promote STEM education, provide mentorship opportunities and celebrate the achievement of engineers, both established and emerging.”

The provost of the KNUST College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, was optimistic of a better world with engineers.

 “The world needs engineers who are not just problem solvers but problem preventers. We need engineers who are passionate, ethical and purpose driven to make a positive impact,” said Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei who spoke on his behalf.

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