The University of Education, Winneba, hosted the inaugural Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Annual Public Lecture, focusing on “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Transformation in Africa.” The event, organised by the Education and Skills Development (ESDEV) Foundation Africa in partnership with leading academic and national institutions, seeks to establish a lasting continental platform for dialogue on TVET and skills development.
The lecture honoured the contributions of Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, whose leadership as UEW’s first Vice-Chancellor helped shape teacher education, educational policies, and skills development across Ghana. Under his guidance, UEW expanded access through distance learning and strengthened its role in educational research and policy-making.
Chairing the event, Neenyi Ghartey VII, Effutu Oma Odefe and Chancellor of UEW, welcomed policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and development partners from across Africa to discuss strategies for enhancing vocational training and addressing youth unemployment.
The keynote address by Professor Clifford N B Tagoe highlighted the critical role of TVET in Africa’s economic transformation, urging nations to integrate vocational pathways as central, rather than peripheral, to development agendas. He noted that more than 20 million young Africans enter the labour market annually, yet many lack skills aligned with economic needs, emphasizing TVET as a driver for industrialisation, innovation, and youth employment.
UEW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual, described the lecture as a forward-looking platform aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063, designed to celebrate Professor Anamuah-Mensah’s legacy while promoting competency-based training, inclusivity, and quality learning.
The event reaffirmed UEW’s position as a catalyst for educational reform and sustainable development, positioning TVET at the heart of Africa’s industrial and skills development strategy.
