The Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi, has urged African universities to take advantage of Artificial Intelligence (A1) to solve societal problems confronting the continent.
According to him, African universities could connect their innovative research with AI to solve seemingly impossible problems to achieve sustainable development.
“AI came for people in Africa. We can begin to solve problems that almost seem impossible with AI. It is possible to connect your knowledge base with AI to help you build a very sustainable culture,” he remarked.
Prof. Amoako-Yirenkyi was speaking at the 8th Research Awards and Grants Ceremony organised by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Themed, “Artificial Intelligence for Innovative Research and Sustainable Development,” the event was to support quality research and encourage research excellence and innovation amongst faculty.
A section of participants
A total of 44 awardees were honoured for their direct contributions to the University of Cape Coast's sterling performance in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Prof. Amoako-Yirenkyi admitted that African countries were lagging behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030.
He maintained that it was time African countries made use of AI as a catalyst for development. To that end, Prof. Amoako-Yirenkyi asked universities across the globe to align their mandates and visions with the SDGs, maintaining that “without the universities, the world can't achieve these objectives”.
He encouraged academic researchers to align their thinking with the SDGs.
“No matter what you do as a research person, it is inside the SDGs. So, it is important that while you are thinking about your next research see where it aligns so that whatever you do becomes sustainable by default,” Prof. Amoako-Yirenkyi explained.
Awards
Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, a former Pro Vice-Chancellor, displaying her citation of honour for her contribution to DRIC
At the ceremony, Prof Samuel Kofi Tulashie and Prof. Ernest Teye, both from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, as well as Dr Peterson Owusu Junior, from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, were adjudged the best researchers.
Apart from the grantees and awardees, DRIC honoured the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene along with past Vice-Chancellors and Pro Vice-Chancellors of University of Cape Coast and former staff of DRIC, with Leadership Excellence Awards for their immense contributions towards the growth of DRIC.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC