The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has been appointed as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 Hub Vice-Chair for Teaching and Education for the 2025–2027 term.
The appointment, communicated by Mr. Robert Skinner, Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement at the United Nations Department of Global Communications, follows a competitive global selection process that reviewed more than 330 applications from higher education institutions worldwide.
Mr. Skinner commended KNUST’s strong commitment to advancing SDG 2: Zero Hunger, noting its leadership in integrating food systems and sustainability into its curriculum, developing specialized training in food science and nutrition, and engaging local communities through initiatives such as the KNUST Food Festival. He expressed confidence that KNUST’s leadership would “inspire meaningful progress and foster collaboration toward a more sustainable and equitable future.”
A Global Role in Advancing Food Security Education
As Vice-Chair for Teaching and Education under the UNAI SDG 2 Hub, KNUST will lead international higher education efforts to promote food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture through research, teaching, and community engagement. The role extends from October 2025 to December 2027, positioning KNUST as a key global advocate in integrating sustainability education and evidence-based food systems thinking into academic and policy frameworks.
Each UNAI SDG Hub focuses on a specific Sustainable Development Goal and serves as a platform for collaboration among universities to promote research, innovation, and teaching aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Vice-Chair portfolio complements the work of the Hub Chair and other Vice-Chairs responsible for Research and Partnerships & Outreach.
KNUST’s Commitment to the SDGs
The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson welcomed the appointment, describing it as a reaffirmation of KNUST’s leadership in aligning higher education with the UN’s sustainability agenda.
“This honour reflects our enduring commitment to transforming lives through knowledge, innovation, and partnerships that tackle hunger and malnutrition across Africa and beyond.”
About the UNAI SDG Hub Network
The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) is an initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in supporting and contributing to the realization of its goals and mandates. UNAI SDG Hubs are designated institutions that promote specific SDGs through teaching, research, and outreach activities, harnessing academic expertise to drive social, economic, and environmental change.
The UNAI SDG 2 Hub focuses on Zero Hunger, advancing sustainable food production, equitable access to nutrition, and education that supports resilient agri-food systems.
About KNUST
KNUST, Ghana’s premier science and technology university, continues to demonstrate leadership in research, teaching, and community engagement across Africa. With initiatives spanning climate-smart agriculture, nutrition science, and sustainable development, the University remains a hub for innovation and solutions that advance the global sustainable development agenda.
For more information on the UNAI SDG Hub Network, visit https://www.un.org/en/academicimpact.
