The College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has commemorated World Engineering Day under the theme: Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable World. The event, held on the 4th March 2024 seeks to recognise the vital contributions of engineers in shaping the world and addressing global challenges.
Representing the Provost of the College of Engineering, Professor Kwaku Amaning Adjei, the Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo Engineering, noted that the day is set aside to celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements of engineers towards the betterment of society. He stated that KNUST is committed to nurturing engineers to generate solutions that address climate change and other societal problems, adding that KNUST is the destination to study engineering as students are given the prerequisite skills to thrive in the industry.
He called on all pre-tertiary and tertiary students to embrace innovation and creativity in producing technology that solves human problems. He encouraged engineering students to collaborate with other fields and uphold ethical responsibility in developing solutions. He also challenged young girls to embrace engineering to increase the number of women in the engineering space. “Engineers hold the power to make changes and shape a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe,” he said.
Mr. Theodore Ohene-Botchway, Chief Technology Officer of SAYe Tech Co. Ltd. and Alumnus of the College, highlighted the significance of engineers in addressing Ghana's challenges, especially in the post-pandemic era. He emphasised the responsibility of Ghanaian engineers to innovate solutions for local problems. He revealed that SAYe Tech has provided essential machinery, such as threshers, to ten thousand (10,000) smallholder farmers, aiming to alleviate their operational burdens.
Ohene-Botchway stressed the importance of harnessing the potential of young engineers to tackle societal issues and urged fellow engineers to embrace their role in finding innovative solutions, asserting that the solutions to Ghana's problems lie within its people and their capacity to innovate.
Ms. Deborah Opandoh, the Executive Director of QueenTech, emphasised the critical importance of educating individuals about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She cited the 2023 Sustainable Development Report, which ranks Ghana 122nd out of one hundred and sixty-six (166) countries, stressing the urgent need for Ghanaians to adopt sustainable lifestyles.
Highlighting the pervasive influence of engineering across various domains such as fashion, health, transportation, and communication, Ms. Opandoh urged engineers to leverage on their knowledge to develop practical, safe, ethical, and reliable solutions. She encouraged young people to actively engage in learning and preparing to apply their knowledge to create sustainable solutions and called for collaborations with like-minded individuals to foster innovative ideas.
Ms. Opandoh recommended KNUST as an excellent institution for students aspiring to pursue engineering, given its comprehensive training programmes. She disclosed QueenTech's commitment to producing safe, sustainable, and mobile food processing equipment tailored for women.
Solidarity messages were delivered by representatives from the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC), the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), and the Ghana Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), commemorating the day and highlighting the importance of adopting sustainable lifestyles to achieve the SDGs.
The event concluded with a panel discussion focusing on engineering solutions for a sustainable world, featuring guest speaker Peter Dickson, Quality Assurance and Process Manager at CBI Ghana Ltd. Additionally, the event showcased spoken word performances, video presentations, virtual reality exhibitions, and the launch of student-led projects.