Access Bank Ghana has donated GHS100,000 to the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) in support of the University’s faculty-authored textbook project.
The course book authorship initiative is aimed at developing and publishing learning resources based on Ghanaian and indigenous business case studies.
It is also intended to reduce the reliance on foreign-authored academic materials while building the capacity of faculty members to develop course-specific materials.
Presenting the cheque at a brief ceremony on Friday, July 11, Mr. Kafui Bimpe, Head of SME Banking for Africa at Access Bank expressed his excitement about the faculty-authored textbook project.
He described the project as a forward-thinking initiative that aligns with the bank’s commitment to educational development and capacity-building in Africa.
He lauded UPSA’s broader innovation agenda, particularly its laptop assembling project and the proposed customised training programmes targeted at both entry-level staff and senior managers of corporate organisations.
Mr Bimpe also noted the Bank’s readiness to collaborate with UPSA faculty in developing tailored curricula for the training of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
Executive Director for Wholesale Banking at Access Bank, Mr. James Bruce, called for a more structured partnership between UPSA and Access bank, proposing an annual quota for UPSA students to benefit from internship and national service opportunities at Access Bank.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (RIKT), Prof. Samuel Antwi, who received the donation on behalf of the University, thanked the bank for the generous gesture.
He highlighted the University’s focus on indigenous knowledge production, stressing that the faculty-authored textbook initiative, along with other projects such as the laptop assembly plant and specialised training modules, seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry while promoting home-grown solutions for Africa’s development.
Registrar of UPSA, Mrs. Lorraine Gyan, acknowledged Access Bank as the University’s primary financial partner and welcomed the bank’s continued support.
“We are encouraged by this show of commitment and are confident that the new management of UPSA will not only sustain but deepen this productive relationship between UPSA and Access Bank,” Mrs Gyan said.
