In a determined effort to deepen education and development collaborations across Africa, Honey Olawale, Director of Global Skills Hub UK, embarked on a significant working visit to the Republic of Ghana last week.
The visit, which focused on fostering partnerships in education, finance, and community development, brought together key leaders and institutions to explore innovative ways to advance learning and economic opportunities across the continent.
During the week-long engagement, Olawale met with Ghana’s Honourable Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. Their discussions centered on creating stronger bilateral links in the education sector, enhancing skill acquisition pathways, and promoting inclusive policies that can bridge gaps in educational access and quality.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Olawale to engage with Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Head of Ghana’s Parliament Select Committee on Education. The conversations focused on the future of tertiary education and the role of governance in facilitating educational reforms.
Recognizing the importance of grassroots involvement in educational progress, Olawale held meetings with the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers and representatives from six of the country’s leading education unions.
He also engaged with the Ghana Coalition of Education NGOs, an umbrella body representing more than 200 organizations dedicated to improving educational outcomes throughout Ghana.
These discussions emphasized the importance of teacher training, community-based learning initiatives, and collaborative advocacy.
As part of his outreach to academic institutions, Honey Olawale visited the University of Cape Coast, where he was warmly received by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, who also serves as Chairman of the Association of West African Universities.
Together with the university’s leadership, Olawale explored avenues for partnership in research, innovation, and student mobility programs.
He also visited Pentecost University, where an engaging session with Vice Chancellor Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua and the university’s management team opened discussions on digital skills development, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange.
Further meetings at the headquarters of the Association of African Universities in Accra reinforced the importance of pan-African collaboration in higher education and capacity building.
Beyond the education sector, Olawale also engaged with the financial community, meeting with Dr. Zakaria Doliwura, Managing Director of the National Investment Bank. Their dialogue addressed innovative financing models that can support the expansion of education and development projects in Ghana and across the region.
The visit also included an important conversation with the regional leadership of the Africa Project Against Suicide, an organization playing a crucial role in addressing mental health challenges and suicide prevention.
Olawale expressed strong support for their work and emphasized the need to integrate mental health initiatives into broader education and development frameworks.
Reflecting on the visit, Honey Olawale expressed gratitude to his friend and host, Hon. Desmond Paitoo, for his unwavering support, and commended his dedicated team—Dr. Marian, Victoria, Gloria, Kayode, Godwin, and Doreen—for their professionalism and commitment to advancing Global Skills Hub’s mission.
“Our journey to strengthen education and development partnerships across Africa is only just beginning,” Olawale remarked. “We look forward to visiting more African countries in the coming months as we continue to build bridges that empower communities through education and innovation.”
INN-HOUSE☆ 