Over 1000 African students will benefit from loans to study in their preferred universities in the U.S. and Canada for master’s programmes through an initiative by the Nekotech Center of Excellence.

The package was announced by the Co-Founder of Nekotech, H.E. Rev. Dr. A.K. Ocansey, at the second annual Africa-US Presidential Forum held at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

Out of the pool of loan funds, $100 million has been allocated to Ghana, $25 million to Liberia, and $25 million to Chad.

The Africa-US Presidential Forum on STEM-AI-MBA provides a point of convergence for African presidents, U.S. government officials, corporate leaders, and other important dignitaries to discuss critical issues in strategic workforce training, with a focus on STEM, AI-focused learning, and MBA, to create a new generation of business-savvy tech society in Africa.

At the recent event, H.E. Rev. Dr. A.K. Ocansey highlighted financial challenges as a major barrier that prevents African students from accessing world-class higher education in advanced countries like the US and Canada.

Hence, the Nekotech Center of Excellence and its partners have forged alliances to provide a flexible path and support for students seeking higher learning to develop their countries in Africa.

“What stops students in Africa from going forward with education is finance, and we know that in many of our nations, students simply cannot afford the level of education that we are calling for in STEAM, AI era,” she explained as she announced the allocations for the different countries.

In addition, Nekotech is offering a $2,500 scholarship for prep school to equip all students with the necessary orientation, training, and guidance to enable them to succeed in graduate school.

Representatives from the various countries were present to receive the packages as the Director General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, collected the symbolic cheque on behalf of Ghana.

Furthermore, over one thousand students are expected to benefit from scholarships at the Stevens Institute of Technology through the Nekotech Centre of Excellence.

Various high-level dignitaries were in attendance as His Royal Majesty King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, and the President of the Ga Traditional Council pledged 20-acre land to build a STEM-AI hub similar to the world-renowned Silicon Valley.

H.E. Rev. Dr. Ocansey is expected to play a key role in this initiative and to support the king’s efforts at the Ga State.

At the forum, His Royal Majesty King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II; the President of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera; the former President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda; and the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, were presented with Nekotech-Stevens Presidential Awards for their remarkable efforts and exemplary roles in promoting education in Africa.

H.E. Rev. Dr. A.K. Ocansey commended the phenomenal roles of President Chukwera, the Ga Mantse, the President of Stevens Institute of Technology Dr. Nariman Farvardin, former President Dr. Joyce Banda, President Maada Bio, and all partners involved in the Nekotech study abroad programme championing higher education for a positive transformative impact on society.

In his remarks, the President of Stevens Institute of Technology, Dr. Nariman Farvardin, said the university organised the event in partnership with the Nekotech Centre of Excellence to show its commitment to fostering technological innovation and educational excellence to ensure a brighter future for Africa’s next generation of leaders and innovators.

“We organised this event as it aims at strengthening educational ties between Africa and the US in ensuring that Africa remains at the forefront of technological progress,” Mr. Farvardin observed.

Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, with a rich legacy of technological innovation.

The Nekotech Center is a 25-year-old multiple award-winning human capital development institution with a focus on STEM-AI-MBA as well as soft skills and spiritual development training focused on character integrity and achievement development.

Nekotech was recently recognized by the US White House with a lifetime achievement award.