The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), has launched its 75th anniversary celebrations under the theme, “From Excellence to Eminence: 75 Years of KNUST,” marking a major milestone in the University's history as a leading institution for higher education, research, innovation and national development.
The launch brought together traditional leaders, government representatives, alumni, students, staff, development partners and friends of the University to celebrate KNUST's achievements and contributions to Ghana, Africa and the global community.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, reflected on the University's impact over the past seven and a half decades.
“This city has been more than classrooms, laboratories, studios and workshops. It has been a home, a family, and a place where dreams are nurtured and futures are shaped,” she said.
Professor Dickson described KNUST's journey as one defined by resilience, vision and generations of people who believed in the transformative power of education. She noted that the University has, for 75 years, served as a platform for groundbreaking research, innovation and the training of leaders who continue to shape society across diverse sectors.
According to her, KNUST's legacy is measured not only by the degrees it has awarded but also by the lives it has transformed and the opportunities it has created. She highlighted the achievements of alumni who occupy leadership positions in government, industry, academia, medicine, engineering, law, business, science, technology and the creative arts across the world.
Professor Dickson also underscored the University's contribution to economic and social development, noting that KNUST has played a significant role in the growth of communities around the campus while remaining one of the largest employers in the Ashanti Region.
“As we celebrate 75 years of excellence, we are looking beyond our achievements toward a future of greater impact, global recognition, transformative research, innovation and societal influence. Our journey is now from excellence to eminence,” she stated.
Chairman of the KNUST 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, Professor William Otoo Ellis, said the celebration offered an opportunity to honour the University's past while embracing its future.
“We gather not only to honour our past but to celebrate an enduring legacy of achievement and a future filled with possibilities,” he said.
Professor Ellis traced the University's evolution from a vision conceived by Ghana's founding leaders into a globally respected institution known for academic excellence, research, innovation and service to society.
He noted that KNUST graduates have made significant contributions to national and global development as engineers, scientists, medical practitioners, architects, entrepreneurs, policymakers and leaders across various fields.
Chancellor of KNUST, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, praised the University's growth and reaffirmed its importance to national development.
He paid tribute to the visionaries whose foresight led to the establishment of a university in Kumasi, noting that their dream had grown into a world-class institution advancing science, technology and innovation.
The Chancellor described KNUST as a globally respected university that has consistently demonstrated the ability to adapt, innovate and lead in a rapidly changing world.
“The story of KNUST is a story of possibilities, a story of students who arrived with dreams and departed with the capacity to change the world,” he said.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commended the University for maintaining its relevance through academic excellence, research innovation and responsiveness to emerging societal needs. He also lauded KNUST's long-term strategic vision to advance research, embrace digital transformation, strengthen global partnerships and deepen its contribution to national development.
While celebrating the University's achievements, he challenged KNUST to continue addressing pressing national issues through research and innovation, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, environmental sustainability and technological advancement.
“As we celebrate 75 years of achievement, we must also prepare deliberately for the future. We must continue to invest in infrastructure, strengthen research capacity, embrace digital transformation, and foster a culture of innovation,” he urged.
The Chancellor also encouraged students to pursue excellence with integrity and called on alumni, government, industry and development partners to deepen their support for the University's next phase of growth.
