Professor Nana Yaw Asiedu of the Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), has been appointed an Honorary Professor at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

The three-year appointment, effective from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2029, was approved by UNISA’s Executive Committee of Senate (SENEX). The appointment is renewable at the end of the term and is subject to annual review by SENEX.

Professor Asiedu is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and a Professional Engineer (PE). He is affiliated with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE-UK) and is a Senior Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, an MSc in Chemical Engineering from KNUST and a BSc (Honours) in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

His research interests include reactor engineering, chemical process modelling, simulation and optimisation, biochemical engineering, applied thermodynamics, heterogeneous catalysis, process economics, and attainable-region development and analysis.

The appointment recognises Professor Asiedu’s academic and research contributions to chemical engineering, particularly in chemical reactor design and synthesis, attainable-region theory, process modelling and optimisation, biogas reactor engineering, biomass valorisation, process economics, waste-to-energy systems and sustainable energy-transition technologies.

As an Honorary Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at UNISA’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Professor Asiedu will contribute to research collaboration, postgraduate supervision and examination, joint scholarly publications, academic seminars and exchanges, and collaborative grant applications.

The appointment is also expected to strengthen academic and institutional cooperation between KNUST and UNISA in areas of shared research interest. The collaboration could provide opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, postgraduate training and other scholarly engagements.

Professor Asiedu described the appointment as both an honour and an opportunity to advance impactful research and postgraduate training.

He expressed his commitment to using the platform to promote interdisciplinary research, support emerging scholars and contribute to developing practical engineering solutions to Africa’s energy, environmental and industrial development challenges.

As part of his responsibilities, Professor Asiedu is expected to deliver at least one public lecture annually and participate in a workshop within the relevant UNISA college or department.

KNUST congratulates Professor Nana Yaw Asiedu on his appointment and looks forward to his continued contribution to research collaboration, postgraduate training and the development of sustainable engineering solutions for Africa.