Bridging the hole between academia and business is crucial for fostering innovation, driving financial development, and guaranteeing graduates are well-prepared for the workforce. This includes creating stronger connections and collaborations between instructional establishments and companies to align analysis, curriculum, and coaching with the wants of the fashionable economic system.
Challenges in bridging this hole largely stem from differing priorities, communication obstacles, and, to a big extent, a lack of information. By addressing these challenges and implementing efficient methods, universities and industries can work collectively to create a extra dynamic and productive ecosystem that advantages each schooling and the economic system.
As a part of efforts to equip tertiary college students with the mandatory abilities and instruments, the Ghana Excessive Fee in Kenya, in collaboration with the Ghanaian College students’ Affiliation—East Africa (GSEA), took the initiative to organise an occasion on the ninth of August 2025, themed “Encounter with the Professions”.
The occasion introduced collectively over 200 tertiary college students learning varied programs corresponding to Regulation, Accountancy, Medical Biology, Enterprise Administration, Pharmacy, Information Science and lots of others in varied tertiary establishments throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ghana.
A number of the universities embrace USIU-Africa, College of Nairobi, Kenya, College of Dar es Salaam, Tangaza College, Kenyatta College of Regulation, Imaginative and prescient Institute of Professionals, Strathmore College, College of Ghana, Catholic College of Japanese Africa, College of Cape Coast, Marist Worldwide College School and Africa Management College.
Talking on the inaugural seminar on behalf of His Excellency Damptey Bediako Asare, the Ghana Excessive Commissioner in Kenya, Mr Josephine Adjei (First Secretary Political and Financial) expressed his heartfelt gratitude to college students and the function the fee is enjoying to foster mutual relations between Ghana and Kenya. He additional mirrored on the message “Constructing Bridges, Empowering Futures” underneath a shared imaginative and prescient of group, collaboration, and development.
Because the premier umbrella organisation for Ghanaian students in East Africa, GSAE is devoted to fostering unity, mentorship, and alternative, empowering members to thrive academically, professionally, and personally. Individuals had the chance to attach with a dynamic community of friends and professionals from business leaders via profession insights and mentorship periods. The launch of this platform is designed to uplift and unite the group. He embraced the concept of laying the muse for a vibrant, supportive scholar group the place each member can develop, encourage, and succeed.
The programme was graced by a panel of resourceful audio system with distinguished profiles:
Mrs. Akofa Atawa Dakwa is a Banking and Finance Skilled with 20 years’ expertise within the Banking business. Her experience contains technique design and execution, enterprise danger administration, treasury & monetary markets and operational resilience. Akofa is presently the Deputy Managing Director at Financial institution of Africa Kenya Ltd. She can also be an Impartial Non-Government Director on the Boards of Guinness Ghana Breweries and Savvy Securities Ghana Ltd. Akofa began her profession journey within the 12 months 2004, with Unilever Ghana Ltd, and labored for a 12 months of their Provide Chain Division.
She then moved on to pursue a profession in Banking, as a part of the pioneer group of Warranty Belief Financial institution Ghana Ltd in 2005, the place she labored for 3 years of their Treasury and Threat Administration departments. Akofa joined the then Amalgamated Financial institution (now Financial institution of Africa) in 2008, the place she held varied roles, key amongst them as Chief Threat Officer and Head of Treasury. She has been credited with reworking the Treasury Division of the Financial institution right into a key strategic enterprise unit and contributed to the turnaround of the financial institution. She additionally has a robust popularity for creating high-performance groups.
Akofa is a Chartered Accountant (FCCA, UK), a Chartered Banker (CIB-Ghana), and a Licensed Monetary Threat Supervisor (GARP, USA). She additionally holds an MBA in Finance and Threat Administration from the Enterprise College Netherlands, a Bachelor of Legal guidelines (LLB) diploma from the Mountcrest College, Ghana and a B.Sc. Biochemistry diploma from KNUST, Ghana. Akofa is a member of the ACCA’s International Discussion board for Governance, Threat and Efficiency. She can also be a member of the Government Girls Community, Ghana, the place she contributes to advocacy and help for girls executives and entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Mrs.Hafsa Arthur is the Regional Head of Advertising, Africa at PZ Cussons Kenya. She leads manufacturers in the direction of sturdy development and market management. She held varied roles working with SC Johnson and Nestlé in Ghana. Hafsa is a Licensed Maxwell Management group member. Her experience in promoting is not only about selling merchandise, however it’s about weaving narratives that foster deep connections with clients within the fast-moving client items sector. As a proud scholar of Wesley Women Excessive College, Cape Coast, she holds an Government MBA in Advertising and obtained her Bachelor of Science Enterprise Administration from the College of Ghana, Legon.
Mr. George David Allotey has over 16 years of labor expertise within the Monetary Markets and Funding Administration business. All through his profession, he has led groups of funding professionals throughout technique, portfolio administration, analysis, product growth, and danger administration, overlaying each conventional and non-traditional asset lessons.
He’s presently the Affiliate Director, Investments, at ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Firm), an establishment of the Widespread Marketplace for Japanese and Southern Africa (COMESA). Previous to his present function, he served because the Chief Funding Officer at Stanbic Funding Administration Providers in Ghana, the place he advocated for and suggested personal pension schemes on investing in different property to deepen their relevance within the Ghanaian economic system. He holds an MA in Power Regulation, an MBA in Finance and a BSc in Land Financial system. George is a proud Kantagee and an previous boy of Prempeh School (Amanfo).
Throughout the panel discussions, Akofa spoke on roles throughout the banking sector, required abilities and certifications, profession development, and interview preparation. George centered on “Funding Fundamentals for Younger Professionals”, overlaying funding automobiles, the significance of beginning early, constructing a profession in funding administration, and monetary planning. Hafsa addressed “Constructing a Model and Advertising Your Profession”, highlighting the distinction between B2B and B2C advertising, private branding, present digital advertising traits, and steady ability acquisition.
A central spotlight of the occasion was networking and mentorship, geared toward constructing significant connections between college students and business professionals. Equally necessary was the drive to offer internships and work placements, giving college students the sensible, real-world expertise important for bridging the hole between academia and business.
Because the inaugural occasion, the long-term imaginative and prescient is to keep up ongoing engagement, with professionals frequently inspiring youthful generations to try for excellence, grow to be accountable residents, and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of Ghana, Africa, and the broader world.
Particular appreciation goes to the organisers of the scholars’ physique for championing such a worthy trigger.
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In regards to the author
Carl Odame-Gyenti, PhD, is the creator of the Dare to Dream ebook, a Monetary Establishments Protection and Paytech skilled, and a Licensed Treasury Skilled working with an Worldwide Financial institution in Kenya, East Africa. Contact: Carl.odamegyenti2@gmail.com, Cell: +254 70 5459061
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially symbolize the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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