The African Centre of Excellence in IoT (ACEIoT) team from the University of Rwanda recently visited the Provost of the College of Engineering (CoE) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on 21st January 2025 in Ghana. The purpose of the visit was to pay a courtesy call to the Provost of the CoE, strengthen partnerships, facilitate knowledge exchange, and explore opportunities for collaborative research between the two institutions.
The ACEIoT team was led by Prof. Damien Hanyurwimfura, Principal Investigator, and included Dr. Evaritse Twahirwa, Researcher and Mentorship Coordinator, as well as Mr. Desire Ngabo, Head of Laboratories. During the visit, they expressed interest in KNUST’s lab designs, innovation hubs, and ongoing research projects, particularly in exploiting technology to address pressing challenges in Africa.
They were welcomed by the KEEP (KNUST Engineering Education Project) team, led by Prof. Mensah Darkwa, Deputy Project Lead, who introduced them to Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Provost of the College of Engineering. Prof. Darkwa greeted the visitors with a New Year’s message, while Prof. Nyarko emphasized the importance of African institutions collaborating to tackle key challenges like poverty and unemployment. He proposed joint initiatives to foster startups and build competitive industries across Ghana and Rwanda, stating, “Africa faces significant challenges, including poverty. Engineering and technology can help solve these problems. We must create sustainable jobs and make our industries competitive. Collaboration can help us achieve these goals and improve lives in Ghana, Rwanda, and beyond”.
Prof. Hanyurwimfura highlighted the shared vision between ACEIoT and CoE, noting similarities between the AI lab at the University of Rwanda and KNUST’s facilities. The AI lab, funded by ITRC, is central to a project that applies AI in areas such as energy, health, and agriculture. The ACEIoT team commended KNUST’s innovative projects, particularly in AgriTech, which are already making a regional impact.
Discussions also revolved around the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the institutions, which outlines plans for joint seminars, research initiatives, and weekly seminar series. Prof. Nyarko remarked on the MOU’s goals, “One project concludes, and another begins, fostering collaboration between professors and students to enhance teamwork and innovation.”
The collaboration extends beyond academics to include support for startup ecosystems in both countries. The discussions highlighted the need for homegrown, sustainable solutions to Africa’s challenges. Partnerships between Ghanaian and Rwandan AgriTech startups have already commenced, with plans for reciprocal visits and funding support.
The ACEIoT team toured KNUST’s Innovation Centre and other facilities, exploring ongoing projects and identifying potential synergy areas. Mr. Ngabo expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown by the KEEP team, describing the visit as insightful and impactful.
The visit concluded with a commitment to advancing the partnership through joint research, student and faculty exchanges, and startup development.
The College is open to exploring collaborative opportunities. If you have similar projects you’d like to partner on, please feel free to contact us via email.
