By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Skills for Progress Africa, in partnership with ELAF Industrial Automation Limited, has organised an educational visit to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) for 10 fellows of its Technical Talent for Industry Fellowship to gain practical industry experience.
The visit, held last month, provided the fellows with an opportunity to observe refinery operations, learn about the facility and interact with experienced industry professionals.
The delegation was received by Mr Edmond Kombat, Managing Director of TOR; Nana Amoasi VII, Technical Adviser to the Managing Director; Mr Richard Lamptey, General Manager for Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) and Risk Insurance; and Ms Matilda Frempah of the Public Relations Department.
During an interaction with the fellows, Mr Kombat shared lessons on leadership and highlighted the responsibility of professionals to develop solutions to societal and industrial challenges.
He urged the participants to focus on the practical skills and value they could offer rather than relying solely on academic qualifications.
“The world is asking now more than ever: What can you do? Not what certificate do you have?” he said.
Mr Kombat underscored the role of technical professionals in Africa’s development, stating that: “The future of Africa will be engineered, and we must be the engineers.”
Mr Kwame Nyatuame, Executive Director of Skills for Progress Africa, said industry exposure was essential in helping young technical professionals appreciate how their training could be applied in real-world settings.
“It is opportunities like this from industry that make the reality vivid to the technical talent we are nurturing, and we thank the leadership of TOR for opening their doors to us,” he said.
Mr Solomon Bekoe, Managing Director of ELAF Industrial Automation Limited, described the visit as an eye-opening experience for the fellows and commended TOR’s leadership for its efforts to restore the refinery to operation.
He said the visit formed part of efforts to develop technically competent, industry-ready and purpose-driven African professionals.
Mr Bekoe expressed the hope that the engagement would lead to internship opportunities for the fellows at TOR, enabling them to gain further practical experience and apply their technical knowledge in an industrial environment.
Through the Technical Talent for Industry Fellowship, participants receive technical training, industry exposure, mentorship, and personal and professional development to help bridge the gap between education and employment.
Skills for Progress Africa expressed appreciation to the management and staff of TOR for sharing their expertise and supporting the development of Ghana’s next generation of technical professionals.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Edward Dankwah