Vivo Energy Ghana, the company the markets and distributes Shell-branded fuels and lubricants is set to partner the KNUST College of Engineering for the launch of the 2026 Edition of the ShePower Summit.
The ShePower Summit is an initiative by Vivo Energy Ghana designed to inspire, educate, and empower young women, with a primary focus on encouraging careers in STEM and leadership roles.
The company is also exploring a partnership with the college on the launch and roll-out of the NextGen Energy Innovators Challenge (NEIC), designed to bridge academia and industry.
During the meeting, Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communication Manager for Vivo Energy Ghana, shared the resounding impact of last year’s ShePower Summit held in Accra. She expressed the company's enthusiasm to partnering with the College of Engineering to host this year’s edition, extending its reach and empowering more students within our academic community.
Dr. Kwame Sarkodie, Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, outlined the vision for the collaboration. The NEIC is crafted to empower our students to create innovative, data-driven, and entrepreneurial solutions for Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. By merging our academic rigour with direct industry mentorship from Vivo Energy, the challenge aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in energy innovation.
“This initiative ensures student projects are not only technically excellent but are also viable for real-world impact, fostering a mindset of innovation and leadership,” said Dr. Sarkodie. “It directly supports our mission to contribute to both the energy sector and Ghana’s broader economic development, while preparing a talented pipeline of future-ready graduates.”
The meeting also highlighted the College’s existing ecosystem for innovation. Mr. Makafui John Bedzra, Manager of the KNUST College of Engineering Innovation Centre, showcased the Centre’s role in nurturing start-ups, facilitating market access, accelerating ventures, and driving research commercialisation through applied collaborations.
Representing the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, the Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo-Engineering, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei, expressed the College’s full commitment. “We are excited to support this strategic partnership. Such collaborations are essential for enabling our students to tackle authentic industrial challenges, thereby strengthening the vital synergy between industry and academia for national progress,” he stated.
The meeting was also attended by the College Registrar, Dr. Paul Kwadwo Addo, and Dr. (Mrs.) Emmanuela Kwao-Boateng, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, highlights the broad institutional support for this partnership across the College.
