New UG, UNDP Collaboration to Empower Youth Through Innovation and Digital Skills Training
A new partnership between the University of Ghana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is expected to expand opportunities for young Ghanaians by equipping them with digital skills and promoting innovation through the launch of the University Innovation Pod (UniPod).
The UniPod will be hosted at UG’s Digital Youth Hub, a purpose-built innovation space located along the Haatso bypass in West Legon. The initiative aims to serve as a catalyst for youth empowerment, offering tools, training, and support systems that link academia, industry and government to drive digital transformation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, described the initiative as a reflection of the University’s vision to create global impact through innovation. She highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable development and praised the alignment between the project and UG’s strategic goals.
Prof. Amfo highlighted the alignment of the UniPod with UG’s strategic priorities, such as providing transformative student experience, fostering impactful research, and building partnerships to accelerate progress. “We recognise that whatever we want to achieve cannot be done alone. Strategic partners in academia, policymaking, and industry are essential,” she stated.
She disclosed that the UniPod is not just a project for the University of Ghana but a national initiative involving other universities. “We have Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on board. We have the University of Cape Coast on board. the vision is not just for the University of Ghana. Yes, it's national and even international,” she said.
Prof. Amfo also reiterated the University’s commitment to innovation, noting ongoing initiatives like the Artify project and partnerships with institutions like Imperial College London, Impact Hub, and the British Council. “The UNDP has come at the right time to join us in empowering the youth of this country and beyond, equipping them with digital skills to build a brighter future,” she concluded.
On her part, UNDP’s Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, underscored the relevance of the collaboration to Africa’s broader development agenda. She expressed confidence in Ghana’s potential to lead the continent’s digital future, thanks to investments like the UniPod.
Prof. Olivia A. T. Frimpong Kwapong, Director of the Digital Youth Hub and Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, provided an overview of the project. She acknowledged the Government of Ghana’s role in supporting the initiative and noted the diverse network of local and international partners involved in its implementation.
The Digital Youth Hub spans 5.07 acres and includes tech labs, startup incubators and a 2,000-seater auditorium facility designed to inspire innovation and provide young people with the infrastructure to build and scale impactful solutions.
The MOU, facilitated by UG’s Legal Affairs Directorate, sets the foundation for robust infrastructure development, innovation programming, mentorship, joint fundraising, and regional scaling. It positions the UniPod as a dynamic anchor within Ghana’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Prior to the signing, attendees were treated to an exhibition of student-led innovations, including palm oil and egg powder processing systems, energy drinks, and a voice-assisted GPS walking stick designed to aid the visually impaired, demonstrating the kind of creativity the new hub seeks to nurture.
