The President of Molex Foundation Africa, Dr. Patrick Essien (PhD), has called on first-year tertiary students, as well as pre-tertiary and secondary school learners, to deliberately pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Information Technology (IT), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes as critical pathways to national development and personal empowerment.
Dr. Essien, an Environmental and Space Scientist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, former Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Canada, entrepreneur, and Founder of Molex Foundation Africa, made the call during an engagement with a group of university freshers in Cape Coast.
He emphasized that in an era defined by technology, innovation, and industrialisation, STEM, IT, and TVET disciplines form the backbone of modern economies. According to him, these fields equip young people with practical, in-demand skills, global relevance, and sustainable career opportunities.
Dr. Essien noted that Ghana’s future competitiveness will largely depend on the capacity of its youth to acquire strong problem-solving, technical, and digital skills capable of driving innovation, creating jobs, and addressing real-world challenges. He urged students to view STEM, IT, and TVET not merely as academic options, but as strategic tools for nation-building, economic transformation, and self-reliance.
He further reaffirmed Molex Foundation Africa’s commitment to supporting young people through mentorship, capacity-building, and targeted educational initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of African scientists, technologists, and innovators.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku