The KNUST College of Engineering welcomed its newest cohort of future engineers at an orientation ceremony held on Wednesday, 21st October 2026, at the Kumapley Auditorium.
Speaking on behalf of the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geoengineering, said the new students could not have been chosen in a better year than the year the College launched its 75th anniversary.
Referring to the anniversary theme, “Excellence to Eminence,” Prof. Adjei said excellence is what previous generations built, while eminence is where the College is going, becoming a place where Africa and Ghana turn to for engineering solutions.
He reminded the freshers that thousands of graduates had sat where they now sit, and today they lead ministries, laboratories, utilities and universities in Ghana and across the world.
“None of them was born great. They were once nervous freshers like you are this morning, wondering whether they belonged, and they all belonged, and so do you,” he said.
Prof. Adjei described the new students as the 75th anniversary class, noting that the celebration will run all year until the grand finale in October 2027. He encouraged them not to stand and watch from the sidelines but to take part in community outreach programmes, the career fair and Engineering Students Week so that they can make history.
He challenged the students to study engineering with the aim of solving a specific problem facing Ghana and to make it a project that shapes their research and career.
“Greatness is not an accident but a series of conscious decisions you have to take,” he said. He urged them to aim higher than their past, master their discipline, attend every lecture, tutorial and practical, and learn mathematics and fundamentals so deeply that they do not frighten them.
He also advised them to be 15 minutes early and make punctuality a habit, noting that punctuality is respect and that an engineer who is reliable with time earns trust. He encouraged them to join project teams, engage in competitions, and visit the innovation centre with startup ideas. “Don’t just leave with a certificate; leave with a prototype and a patent,” he said.
On integrity, Prof. Adjei stated that it begins now with how students go about their assignments, and that examination malpractice has no place in the College. He urged them to serve their communities with their knowledge and skills, mentor those behind them and ask for help when needed.
He encouraged the female students, assuring them that they belong and asking them to draw inspiration from the female engineers and lecturers in the College. “The journey from excellence to eminence lies with you,” he added.
The College Registrar, Mr. Daniel Kumi-Djan, gave an overview of the University and the College of Engineering. He advised the students to read the student guide and adhere to the rules and regulations in it, familiarising themselves with the University’s student guide and code of ethics.
The orientation also featured essential presentations from key support units dedicated to student success. Officers from the College Library, Counselling and Support Services, Examinations Office, Innovation Center, IT Department, and AI Courses Center outlined their services to the new students.
The Ghana Engineering Students Association (GESA) also welcomed the new students, extending an invitation to join the broader engineering student community and associations.
