One of West Africa’s most powerful Universities, the University of Ghana wants to leave no stone unturned to ensure one of their own scholars wins a Nobel Prize.
Prof Ernest Aryeetey the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana said on Wednesday there is potential for a future Nobel Prize winner to originate from the University of Ghana.
“In many universities, most of the work that will bring fame to the university is done by one or two people leaving it at a place like Yale or Harvard or Stanford. These are the people that will win the Nobel Prize and everybody can see from the way they bring in the grants and the way they have their graduate students around them, you can see a Nobel Prize coming in 10 or 20 years,” he explained.
Prof. Aryeetey made the remarks during the University of Ghana’s 75th Anniversary celebration. He served as the university’s Vice-Chancellor from 2010 to 2016.
He stressed the importance of deliberate efforts to nurture promising talents during their early academic years on campus, underscoring the impact it could have on achieving such a significant milestone.
Prof. Aryeetey expressed his aspiration to witness a Nobel Prize laureate emerge from the University believing it would bestow immeasurable benefits upon the institution and elevate its prestige.
The academician shared his perspective on the university’s historical trajectory, emphasizing the need to evaluate the fulfillment of its core mandate and chart a course of excellence in research and impact.
Prof Aryeetey expressed his desire to see young scholars at institutions like WACCI, WACBIP, Noguchi, or ISSER aspire to Nobel Prize-worthy research and contributions on the global stage.
“We are not there yet, but I would like to see a future in this university where a young man or young woman at WACCI, or at WACBIP, or at Noguchi or ISSER can think and dream about a Nobel Prize,” Prof Aryeetey stated.
He urged the university community to nurture a culture of competitiveness and strive for international recognition, moving beyond being local champions.