Freshers Encouraged to Pursue STEM, IT, TVET for Self-Reliance and Nation-Building
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 embrace studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Information Technology (IT), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as critical pathways to self-reliance and national development.
Dr. Essien, an Environmental and Space Scientist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, former African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Canada Postdoctoral Research Fellow, entrepreneur, and founder of Molex Foundation Africa, made the appeal during an interactive engagement with a section of freshers in Cape Coast today.
Addressing the students, he stressed that in an era dominated by technological innovation and industrialisation, STEM, IT, and TVET disciplines form the backbone of modern economies. According to Dr. Essien, these fields equip young people with practical skills, enhance global competitiveness, and open doors to sustainable career opportunities.
“Ghana’s future depends on the ability of its youth to acquire problem-solving, technical, and digital skills that can drive innovation, create jobs, and offer practical solutions to societal challenges,” Dr. Essien stated. He encouraged students to see STEM, IT, and TVET not just as academic options, but as strategic tools for economic transformation, nation-building, and personal empowerment.
Dr. Essien further reaffirmed Molex Foundation Africa’s commitment to supporting young people through mentorship, capacity-building programs, and educational initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of African scientists, technologists, and innovators.
He concluded by urging students to seize every opportunity to develop their skills, embrace practical learning, and leverage STEM, IT, and TVET education to build a sustainable future for themselves and the nation.
For further details, contact Dr. Patrick Essien on 0509865106.
