For over 25 years, the Emerald Literati Awards has celebrated and rewarded outstanding individuals who have contributed to the scientific body of knowledge. To this end, Dr. Kofi Agyekum, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Construction Technology and Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has been adjudged the 2021 Outstanding Reviewer by Emerald Publishing.
Emerald Publishing conferred this coveted honour on Dr. Agyekum under the Construction Innovation: Information, Process, Management Journal category for his devotion to research and peer-reviewing. Within the year under review, from January to November 2021, Dr. Agyekum has reviewed twenty-five manuscripts for the journal, hence, emerged as the winner for the prestigious award.
Dr. Kofi Agyekum is a Professional Peer Reviewer and Mentor and holds recognized Peer Review and Mentorship certificates from the Publons Academy, UK. He currently serves as an Editorial Board Member for the Acta Structilia Journal hosted by the University of the Free State in South Africa.
He is also a peer-reviewer for many recognized journals like Safety Science (Elsevier), Journal of Building Engineering (Elsevier), Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice (ASCE), Journal of Architectural Engineering (ASCE); Construction Innovation (Emerald) and Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (Emerald).
Through hard work and tenacity, Dr Agyekum has published several quality research works. These include four (4) co-authored books, one (1) co-edited book, six (6) co-authored book chapters, ninety-five (95) peer-reviewed journal papers, and forty-six (46) papers in peer-reviewed conference proceedings.
His publications can be found in top-ranked journals like Safety Science (Elsevier-Q1); Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice (ASCE-Q1); Journal of Building Engineering (Elsevier-Q1); Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (Emerald-Q1); sustainability (MDPI-Q1), and Case Studies in Construction Materials (Elsevier-Q1).
Dr. Agyekum completed Opoku Ware Secondary School in 2004 and entered KNUST in 2005 where he read BSc. Building Technology. He holds certificates in BSc. Building Technology (KNUST), MPhil. Building Technology (KNUST) and PhD Building Technology (KNUST).
In 2018, he obtained his Commonwealth Academic Fellowship at the University of Loughborough in the UK.
He was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Construction Technology and Management in 2013 and has risen through the ranks to the level of Senior Lecturer. His areas of specialization are Circular Economy in Construction, Building Pathology, Green Sustainable and Lean Construction, Construction Health and Safety, and Construction Project Management.
The University Management congratulates Dr. Kofi Agyekum on his achievements.