Commemoration of World Engineering Day: Expose students to practical engineering concepts
The Youth Wing of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Ghana Young Academy (GhYA), has commemorated World Engineering Day with a call on stakeholders to expose students to practical engineering concepts at an early age to nurture their creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.
They also stressed the need to ensure near gender parity, which could be achieved through early childhood education.
The Co-Chair of Gh YA, Dr Latifatu Mohammed, who is also a Senior Research Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, further called for increased local investment in research to strengthen engineering innovations.
She said that while many research and engineering projects in the country were supported by development partners, there was the need for sustained domestic funding to generate data and solutions tailored to national priorities.
Dr Mohammed made the call at the commemoration of World Engineering Day at Kwabenya Community SHS in Accra yesterday, on the theme: “Engineering the future – From ideas to innovation”.
Participants were taken through career talks by engineers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Institute of Industrial Research, robotics demonstrations by Firefly, and career guidance sessions by Joyful Journey Career Counselling and Mentorship Institute.
Event
The World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is celebrated annually on March 4, to highlight the crucial role of engineering in modern life, sustainable development, and mitigating climate change.
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019, the day is also used to promote STEM education, the need for more women in engineering, and also encourages innovative solutions to global challenges.
Mentorship
Dr Mohammed said the core mandate of the academy was to mentor early-to-mid-career researchers, adding that the event was to encourage greater female participation in engineering and STEM-related fields.
She said although some progress had been made over the years, women remained underrepresented, particularly at advanced career and leadership levels.
Dr Mohammed stressed the need for collaboration in engineering and scientific practice, since innovation thrived when individuals pooled their strengths and expertise together.
In line with that, she advised students to embrace teamwork as a critical skill for success.
Significance
The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Francis Hasford, described as laudable the work of the academy in engaging SHS and undergraduate students on their career pathways and prospects in science and engineering.
Prof. Hasford, who is also an alumnus of the Gh YA, said such engagements had contributed to a gradual shift in mindset among young people, increasing their interest in STEM fields.
He urged the academy and other STEM-focused organisations to continue prioritising female inclusion, stressing that empowering girls in science was essential for national development.
Encouragement
The Headmistress of Kwabenya Community SHS, Hajia Rahinatu Yakubu, encouraged girls to overcome the fear of science by pursuing careers in engineering and other science-related fields to help solve real-life problems confronting society.
She said empowering girls in science and engineering was critical to building inclusive development and unlocking the country’s full human potential.
Hajia Yakubu further advised students to build their capacities, rediscover their passion for science, and position themselves as key players in shaping a future driven by innovation and opportunities.
