On Monday, July 21, 2025, a delegation from Tennessee State University (TSU) and Biocatalysis Creations, USA, paid a courtesy visit to Professor Esmeranda Manful, Vice Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The delegation comprised Mr. Robert Turner, Technology Transfer and Innovation Manager at TSU, and Mr. Frederick Cawthon, Chief Executive Officer of Biocatalysis Creations. They were introduced by Professor Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at KNUST.
Professor Awunyo-Vitor noted that he was at Tennessee State University as a University Administration Support Programme (UASP) fellow. The programme was sponsored by Carnegie International and administered by IREX in the USA. Based on ongoing discussions between the two institutions, the delegation’s visit aimed to finalize collaborative arrangements.
Mr. Turner emphasized his interest in research and innovation, particularly in the field of technology transfer. Mr. Cawthon, on his part, expressed Biocatalysis Creations’ commitment to establishing a collaborative waste-to-value initiative. The project aims to convert agricultural waste into renewable diesel, biochar, and other sustainable fuels, with the broader goal of contributing to national development.
Professor Manful warmly welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed KNUST’s strategic focus on agriculture, recognizing it as the backbone of Ghana’s economy. She assured the team that KNUST is well-positioned for such collaborations, with skilled personnel ready to support the realization of the proposed initiatives.
Also present at the meeting were Dr. Eli Afetsi Gaveh, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Horticulture; Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Senior Assistant Registrar; Mr. Livingstone Agbenorxevi, Assistant Collaborations and Partnerships Officer; and Mr. Attah-Nyame Essampong, Visibility and Communications Officer – all from the International Programmes Office.
