KNUST Receives Funds to Help Solve Malnutrition

Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice-Chancellor

In order to find a much quicker and efficient means of solving protein malnutrition in developing countries using insects, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has received one million dollars from the Bill Clinton Foundation and one hundred and twelve thousand Canadian dollars from the Grand Challenge Canada.

Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice-Chancellor, made this known in his address at the 2016 Founders’ Day Special Congregation ceremony.

The palm larvae which is locally known as “akokono”, a known delicacy in the forest zone of the country, is one of the edible insects, that KNUST and ASPIRE Group is promoting under the project.

He also stated that on his initiative to shore up interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers for women (girls), the 2016/2017 academic year admission cut-off points for girls opting for STEM programmes were reviewed. He noted that there has been an increment in the female population in STEM programmes by 9%.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced plans to admit most of the brilliant teaching/research assistants in the Colleges into postgraduate programmes. He stated that graduate assistants will be offered a reasonable monthly stipend and senior members working with such students will be supported by the KNUST Research Fund.

This year, the School of Graduate Studies presented 1803 students for graduation at the 2016 Founders’ Day Special Congregation ceremony. Out of this, 46 candidates graduated with PhDs, 211 graduands from the College of Art and Built Environment, 78 graduands from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering presented 52 graduands.

The College of Health Sciences presented 109 graduands, 551 from Humanities and Social Science, the College of Science presented 154 and the Institute of Distance Learning, 648 graduands.