Ghana Science and Tech Meet-Up inspires youth to drive innovation and national development

On Saturday, March 29, the IoT Network Hub hosted the Ghana Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Innovation, and Esports Meet Up (GSEM), an event that convened innovators, entrepreneurs, and students at the NIIT TJIT campus. 

Organized under the theme “The Role of the Youth in Building the Ghana We Want,” the gathering highlighted the pivotal role of technology and youth-led initiatives in shaping the nation’s future.

For nearly a decade, the IoT Network Hub has been at the forefront of nurturing technological talent among young Ghanaians, providing them with emerging tech skills, mentorship, and an enabling ecosystem to drive innovation.

The meetup brought together young innovators, industry experts, and ecosystem players to discuss how emerging technologies can serve as a catalyst for national development.

Joshua Opoku Agyemang, President of the IoT Network Hub, emphasized the importance of empowering young people with the skills and opportunities to shape Ghana’s future.

“For the past nine years, we have been bringing young people together, equipping them with technological skills, preparing them for the future of work, and challenging them to tackle societal problems,” Joshua said.

“The goal is to create a thriving ecosystem where youth-led innovations can drive national development,” he added.

The event featured engaging sessions highlighting the significant strides made by the IoT Network Hub and other key organizations in the tech space.

Discussions focused on youth-led innovations that are making a meaningful impact, as well as how organisations like the Ghana EdTech Alliance, the Student Entrepreneur Network, and Esports Association are collaborating with IoT Network Africa collaborate to build an inclusive and supportive tech ecosystem.

Reflecting on his own journey, Joshua shared how his initial belief that cutting-edge technology could only be developed abroad was shattered after he enrolled in a nine-month software engineering course in Accra.

“I could build applications, websites, and software—all without having traveled abroad,” he recalled. This, according to him, fueled his passion for emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, 3D printing, and robotics, leading to the establishment of the IoT Network Hub.

“Bringing people together to learn, collaborate, and innovate is what has brought us this far,” he added.

With Ghana’s centenary in 2057 on the horizon, Joshua and the other speakers called on young people to take charge of their future. “By 2057, we want to see a different Ghana—a Ghana that has tackled its challenges, is thriving, and is positioned as the gateway to Africa in terms of technology and innovation,” he stated.

On the challenges faced by the IoT Network Hub since its inception, Joshua revealed that sustaining a free and consistent program for nine years was not without obstacles, citing access to resources as a major challenge.

“But through partnerships with organizations like NIIT, which provided venue space, and the Kofi Annan ICT Center, STEMAIDE, and EdTech Alliance, which contributed resources, we have been able to keep the program running,” he said.

The event was packed with inspiring success stories, including that of Mathias Charles Yabe, a social entrepreneur and innovator whose enterprise, Akofresh, is revolutionizing agricultural sustainability in Ghana.

Through the development of solar-powered cold storage solutions, Mathias and his team are tackling post-harvest losses, a major challenge faced by smallholder farmers.

“In Africa, 40% of all crops are lost between harvest and consumption due to a lack of proper storage. This not only affects farmers’ livelihoods but also contributes to environmental issues, as rotting food in landfills emits harmful gases,” he explained.

By extending the shelf life of harvested produce from five days to 21 days, Akofresh is helping thousands of farmers reduce waste and increase their incomes.

Despite the impact of his innovation, Mathias acknowledged the challenges of scaling hardware solutions.

“Unlike software, hardware solutions require significant technical expertise, resources, and equipment. As a small organization, scaling quickly has been difficult,” he said.

Another obstacle has been farmers’ resistance to change, which Akofresh has tackled through capacity-building initiatives and awareness campaigns.

GSEM also served as a platform for students to gain hands-on experience. Bright Borketey, a member of the Robotics Club at Ghana Communication Technology University, expressed his enthusiasm for the program.

“We attended last year, and the experience was amazing. We wanted more students to benefit, so we came in a group this time. The VR demonstrations and other technologies showcased here are inspiring,” Bright observed.