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African Universities Must Bridge Knowledge and Skills Gap
African universities must take stronger action to close the continent’s persistent knowledge and skills gap, according to Professor Clement K. Dzidonu, President of the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT). Speaking at the university’s 21st Graduation Ceremony, he congratulated the 1,094 new students who matriculated into the institution, while emphasizing the need for Africa’s youth to embrace innovation and research-driven education.
Dzidonu emphasized that the global talent economy is still largely dominated by Asia and other regions, but Africa—with its rapidly growing youth population—must position itself as a strong contributor by building capacity and fostering innovation.
Africa’s Skills Gap and the Role of Universities
Research indicates that the number of graduates from African universities is expected to reach 1.9 million annually by 2030, yet many economies still face a significant skills deficit. Dzidonu noted that this gap highlights the urgent need for universities to adopt a competence-based and practical education approach to align graduates with labour market demands.
He stated:
“In more than two decades, we have been fostering a culture of innovation at AIT, preparing our students for critical roles in the emerging economies of Africa.”
AIT’s Milestone Achievements at the 21st Graduation
The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 505 students across Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. A major highlight was the 13th consecutive year of PhD graduations, with AIT surpassing 80 doctoral graduates to date. Impressively, many of these alumni have attained professorial ranks within three years. This is helping to reinfore AIT’s role in producing world-class researchers and innovators.
Distinguished academics, including Professor Emeritus Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, speaking on behalf of Emeritus Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, praised AIT’s dedication to talent development and academic excellence.
AIT: Ghana’s Leading Technology University
AIT is ranked as Ghana’s top private university by the Ghana Tertiary Awards. It has also won the Best Technology University in Ghana award for four consecutive years. It has also been recognized internationally as Ghana’s Best Technology-Focused University by Global Business Insight (UK).
AIT is fully accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and offers both campus-based and Open University programs. The institute collaborates with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for undergraduate programs and with the Open University of Malaysia for postgraduate and doctoral programs.
Looking Ahead: Driving Research and Global Collaboration
AIT is committed to strengthening its collaborations with leading universities worldwide to advance research, academic innovation, and R&D capacity. The institution is committed to producing graduates with strong digital skills and research competence. It also equips them with an innovation mindset to thrive in Africa’s fast-changing economy.
