Regent University to become hub of research, technology - Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah
The newly inducted President of the Regent University College of Science and Technology (RUCST), Professor Nicholas N.N. Nsowah-Nuamah, has pledged to make the institution a technology and innovation research hub in the country and sub-region at large.
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During his tenure, Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said, emphasis would be placed on electrical and computer engineering and renewable energy technology.
These, he said, would help provide appropriate and indigenous solution to the technological challenges facing the society.
To help bring these to fruition, the president said at his investiture on February 16, that the university had plans to establish research projects in solar technology with the aim of developing and manufacturing solar panels and producing portable solar energy devices to power electronic products in Ghana and Africa at large.
“We have plans to establish research projects in electrical and electronics with the aim of assembling most of the electronic gadgets needed in the country,” Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah stated.
He added: “We shall introduce modern technology and approach in apprenticeship training system in Ghana. Starting with the master craftsmen (women), we will introduce them to the application of modern technology and entrepreneurship through short-term training courses to upgrade their skills.
“These projects are expected to enhance the intellectual capacity of the Regent University community and allow our students to have the hands-on experience.”
“All these are expected to enhance the Africa industrial revolution concept that we all envisage today and boost the confidence of the creation of industries in Ghana and, thereby, improve significantly the energy sector,” he added.
He explained that the school’s post-graduate programmes would also concentrate on the outlined areas, as well as focus on other areas it would identify to be attractive to the relevant agencies.
That, he said, would provide the institution the needed material and logistical support in these matters.
“We hope to be able to collaborate with the relevant local and international institutions, as well as eminent researchers, academics and other professionals to collaborate in research, technology development and innovation,” he said.
Obtaining a charter
Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said his administration would work towards obtaining a charter for the university to wean itself off the mentoring universities and its affiliate.
This, he said, would require that Regent University had in place good institutional governance, as well as qualified and quality lecturers.
“My administration will be based on the statutes of the University College and all other relevant policies. I shall adopt the committee system and encourage teamwork. I will adopt an open-door policy and strengthen involvement of the various associations in policy making and implementation,” he said.
World class university
The Chancellor and Founder of the university, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi, said the new president had assumed office at a time the university had set some goals for itself.
Key among these, he said, was its ambition to become a chartered institution this year and to become a world class university by 2020.
Achieving this, he said, would require funding, good infrastructure, good quality of faculty members and an increase in student enrolment.
“Our immediate institutional growth goals are to, at least, regain our previous peak of 2,200 students by the end of 2017 and reach 5,000 students by 2020,” he said.
He added; “Regent University is committed and determined to winning and conquering against odds. It must be more of days and nights of hard work, prayer, determination, sacrifice, perseverance and courage. But victory is sure, God is on our side, the best is yet to come and it will come.”
The new President
Professor Nsowah-Nuamah is a professor of Statistics.
He was the Rector of the Kumasi Polytechnic and the interim Vice Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University from November 2010 to December 2016.
He is also the President of the Ghana Statistical Association.
The new President comes from Nkotumso, a rural community near Dunkwa on Offin in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region.
He is a former student of the St Augustine’s Training College in Bogoso in the Western Region.
He was awarded a scholarship to further his education at the Odessa Institute of National Economy in the then former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), where he obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Statistics with distinction in 1983.
He later obtained a PhD in 1987 at the Moscow State University.