By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, July 22, GNA – The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been named among the inaugural winners of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize.
AHET is a landmark initiative launched by the Mastercard Foundation to recognize African higher education institutions driving sustained, systemic, and institution-wide transformation.
KNUST was recognized in the category of Excellence in Research and Innovation for building one of Africa’s leading research-to-innovation ecosystems and for demonstrating how science, technology, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration could contribute to economic transformation, job creation, and public impact.
As one of five inaugural winning institutions, KNUST would receive US$3 million to scale up transformative initiatives agreed with the Mastercard Foundation and expand educational and economic opportunities for young people across Africa.
The US$3 million award is expected to support the University in expanding its research-to-innovation pipeline, strengthening incubation and entrepreneurship programmes, deepening industry partnerships, and increasing opportunities for young people to transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises and sustainable solutions.
KNUST’s recognition reflects its long-standing commitment to translating research into practical solutions that address societal and economic challenges.
Through platforms such as the Kumasi Business Incubator, the Innovation Centre, and the Technology Consultancy Centre, the University has successfully supported the transformation of research outputs into start-ups, industry solutions, technologies, and interventions with measurable public impact.
These innovation platforms have created opportunities for students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners to collaborate on developing and commercializing ideas, thereby strengthening the University’s contribution to national and continental development.
Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor, KNUST, expressed her delight at the University’s recognition and commended staff, students, researchers, alumni, the KNUST Mastercard Scholars programme and partners for their dedication and outstanding contributions to the University’s success.
“I am deeply honoured that the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, has been recognized as an inaugural recipient of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize in the category of Excellence in Research and Innovation.
“This prestigious award affirms the University’s sustained investment in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the translation of knowledge into practical solutions that create jobs and transform lives,” she indicated.
The other award-winning institutions are Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia; the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering in Burkina Faso; Muni University in Uganda; and the University of Rwanda.
The AHEFT Prize is a first-of-its-kind annual award supported by a US$500 million commitment over its first decade.
It is designed to recognize and support higher education institutions in Africa that are leading meaningful institutional transformation and creating pathways for young people to thrive.
Announcing the Prize, Ms Sewit Ahderom, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mastercard Foundation, noted that African institutions have continued to redefine the role and potential of higher education.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah
Email: [email protected]