In a proactive step towards cultivating a productive collaborative relationship between Takoradi Technical University and Plot Enterprise (Ghana) Limited, an indigenous leader in Cocoa processing in Ghana and West Africa, the Vice Chancellor of Takoradi Technical University, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun and his principal officers paid a courtesy call on the CEO of Plot Enterprise, Mrs. Patricia Poku Diaby and her management team.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss and set the tone for a possible signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions in the spirit of promoting academia-industry relationship.
After a warm reception by the management of Plot Enterprise, the Vice Chancellor of TTU, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, said TTU in pursuance of its mandate to produce industry-relevant and the right manpower for Ghana’s industrial aspirations, has identified PEGL under the leadership of its enterprising CEO, Mrs Patricia Poku Diaby as a strategic partner in TTU’s industry-academia relationship plans.
“There is the need to complement our training with intensive practical training and we have identified some companies in our catchment area that we seek to formalise an MoU with, and that is why we have come to see how we can work together. Also, if there is any research you want us to do, we can also do that. There are lot of things that the MoU will spell out going forward and then maybe also come and adopt some faculty or facility at TTU and brand your company there so that students will know about your company”, he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Plot Enterprise, Mrs Patricia Poku Diaby on her part, affirmed Plot’s desire to build on the existing relationship with TTU. Mrs Poku Diaby assured the TTU delegation of her support in seeking research opportunities from a tertiary institution on which board she serves, for deserving students.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of TTU, Prof. Victor Kweku Bondzie Micah, outlining areas in which TTU seeks collaboration said the university has Centres like the Jubilee Technical Training Centre where it runs capacity-building programmes for industrial workers and offered to collaborate on such capacity building programmes to support further training of Plot workers.
On gender mainstreaming, Prof. Micah added that TTU is currently championing policies to push up females in engineering, hence would welcome support in such an area.
To help both students and lecturers have firsthand appreciation of industrial machinery usage, the Pro Vice Chancellor also appealed for donation of out-of-used but relevant industrial machinery to aid practical teaching and learning.
The Registrar of TTU, Dr. Moses Maclean Abnory also adding his voice to the call for a win-win collaboration to enable TTU fulfil its mandate to produce technical manpower for the country’s development, said TTU has what it takes to go into a partnership to support Plot Enterprise advance the attainment of its goals.
Laying the roadmap for an MoU between the two entities, Dr. Abnory said there would be a follow up communication to define the terms of collaboration to ensure immediate formalisation of a collaborative relationship between TTU and Plot Enterprise (Ghana) Limited.
In his contribution, the General Manager of Plot stated that, for several years, PLOT has offered TTU students access for industrial attachment and subsequent employment, while several key staff of Plot Enterprise including its Head of Operation are alumni of TTU. A successful MoU between TTU and Plot should further increase the number of students/beneficiaries of industrial attachments and research support.
About Plot Enterprise
Plot Enterprise commenced its operations in 2010 at the Eshiem-Mpintsin Free Zones enclave in Takoradi. Since then, it has made a name for itself in the cocoa processing sector in the production of natural and alkalized cocoa liquor, natural and alkalized cocoa butter, and natural and alkalized cocoa cake. Plans are underway to introduce a cocoa powder line.
