The College of Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) is forging a strategic partnership with Vivo Energy Ghana to support women in science and deepen industry–academia collaboration in the energy sector.

Under the proposed partnership, Vivo Energy Ghana, which markets and distributes Shell-branded fuels and lubricants, will collaborate with the College to host the 2026 edition of the ShePower Summit, a flagship initiative aimed at inspiring and empowering young women to pursue careers in STEM and leadership.

The company is also exploring collaboration with the College on the launch and rollout of the NextGen Energy Innovators Challenge (NEIC), an industry-linked programme designed to bridge academic training and real-world energy innovation.

During a meeting between the two institutions, Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communication Manager at Vivo Energy Ghana, highlighted the impact of the 2025 ShePower Summit held in Accra and expressed the company’s interest in expanding the initiative’s reach through the College of Engineering.

She said the partnership would help extend the programme to more students while strengthening Vivo Energy’s commitment to nurturing future female leaders in science and technology.

The Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Kwame Sarkodie, outlined the vision behind the NextGen Energy Innovators Challenge, describing it as a platform to equip students with innovative, data-driven and entrepreneurial skills tailored to Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

“This initiative ensures student projects are not only technically excellent but are also viable for real-world impact, fostering a mindset of innovation and leadership,” he said.
“It directly supports our mission to contribute to both the energy sector and Ghana’s broader economic development, while preparing a talented pipeline of future-ready graduates.”

The meeting also spotlighted the College’s existing innovation ecosystem. The Manager of the KNUST College of Engineering Innovation Centre, Makafui John Bedzra, showcased the Centre’s role in nurturing start-ups, facilitating market access, accelerating ventures and driving research commercialisation through applied industry collaborations.

Representing the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, the Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo-Engineering, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei, affirmed the College’s commitment to the partnership.

“We are excited to support this strategic partnership. Such collaborations are essential for enabling our students to tackle authentic industrial challenges, thereby strengthening the vital synergy between industry and academia for national progress,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by the College Registrar, Dr. Paul Kwadwo Addo, and Dr. Mrs. Emmanuela Kwao-Boateng, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, underscoring broad institutional backing for the partnership across the College.