The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako on Thursday, 28th July 2022, led the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering (DABE) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kofi Vinyo Company Limited (KVCL) to create a platform for research and knowledge sharing between academia and the agricultural industry.
The MoU is to afford DABE and KVCL to establish potential collaboration areas, including consultancy services, enhancing engineering skills training, facilitating research, innovation and product development and sharing resources (laboratory equipment and farm machines) and facilities.
In his remarks before signing the MoU, the Vice-Chancellor of the University said that the collaboration would foster development between the two parties, as DABE would offer scientific support to increase KVCL’s productivity. At the same time, DABE leverages the facilities and resources available at KVCL for students and staff industrial and scientific training.
Giving a brief statement on the partnership, the Ag. HoD of DABE, Dr. Thomas Attah-Darkwa, noted that the need has arisen for the Department to bring on board the technical, practical knowledge and expertise acquired over the years closer to agricultural practitioners and stakeholders within the agricultural value chains. He added that the Department is designing a tiger nut-harvesting machine and an efficient irrigation system for KVCL’s snail farming as part of the collaboration.
Mr. Kofi Vinyo, the CEO of KVCL, a Farmer and an Agro-processor, expressed his happiness about the collaboration and the kind of technological support his company is benefitting from the Institution. He pledged his support to offer any assistance the department would need for staff and students’ development and capacity building.
In another development, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako together with some members of the Management of the University on Thursday, July 28, 2022, paid a courtesy call on the Bono Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat, Mr. Prince Kankam Boadu. The visit was to officially engage the Director on issues of national service postings to the University and the way forward for a sustainable relationship between both institutions.
The Regional Director and his administrative team received the Vice-Chancellor and his entourage at his office. After various discussions about the visit, he made recommendations on how best his institution and UENR can address the challenges faced in terms of national service postings.
The Vice-Chancellor on his part thanked the Director for the warm reception and his ideas to make a feasible service posting to UENR. He assured him that the University would take into cognizance the suggestions discussed to ensure continuous partners between UENR and the Secretariat.
In the company of the Vice-Chancellor were the Registrar, Solomon Panford, Esq., APR, the Head of University Relations Office, Mr. Hayford Asare and a Junior Assistant Registrar at Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations, Mr. James Clarke Hayford.