News and Updates

Discover the latest developments and updates from the Collaborative.

News & Events

Photo of Joachim Osur

, PhD

Vice Chancellor, Amref International University

Amref International University

Photo of Angela Owusu-Ansah

, PhD

Provost (Chief Academic Officer/Pro Vice Chancellor) at Ashesi University

Ashesi University

Photo of Ellis Owusu-Dabo

, PhD

Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor of Epidemiology & Global Health, Consultant Public Health Physician and Researcher.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Photo of Mabel Namubuya Nangami

, PhD

Associate Professor, Health Policy and Health Systems Management

Moi University

Photo of David Gameli Agbeko

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Nicholas Kofi Adegbe

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Obed Ehoneah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Ebenezer Brefo-Appiah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Paul Agbekpornu

Master Scholar

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto

Profile

Joachim Osur, PhD

Vice Chancellor, Amref International University

Amref International University

Joachim Osur is a Professor of Public Health as well as a Sexual and Reproductive Health practitioner. He is the Vice Chancellor, Amref International University.

He is a leader with wide experience in building sustainable health systems in Africa. He is also a specialist in higher education with a focus in building fit for purpose health workforce for African health systems. He is a medical practitioner specialized in Sexual Medicine and continues to attend to patients in his line of specialization.

Profile

Angela Owusu-Ansah, PhD

Provost (Chief Academic Officer/Pro Vice Chancellor) at Ashesi University

Ashesi University

Angela Owusu-Ansah brings more than thirty years of academic and administrative experience in the United States and Ghana, West Africa, to her current role as Provost of Ashesi University. A member of the Phi Kappa Phi, a community of top scholars and professionals, she seeks to build an enduring legacy for future generations. She is a strong advocate for higher education quality serving on national university accreditation agency Boards such as the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) and serving 18 years on the United States Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, formerly NCATE).

As an education leader, Angela served as Elon University’s Associate Dean of the School of
Education and Associate Dean of Access and Success, Samford University’s Assistant Dean of Education Assessment, and currently, Ashesi University’s Provost. She leverages innovative approaches, such as the scholarship of teaching and learning to improve student learning, the science of learning for faculty optimization of instruction, and research capacity building to improve higher education experiences and outcomes. She served on one of the ten Regional Education Laboratories’ Board in the United States to contribute to policy direction and implementation to support research in education.

Angela fosters entrepreneurial and innovative thinking for improving Africa by building spaces for students’ problem solving, integrating southern theory where feasible, and contributing to the development of Africa’s first university ranking system designed for appreciative inquiry of Africa’s systematic growth. Her research interest is in impact evaluation and change in Africa’s higher education, specifically digitized higher education instruction, higher education teaching and learning as a science, intercultural understanding among African students, and African women in Higher Education leadership.

Profile

Ellis Owusu-Dabo, PhD

Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor of Epidemiology & Global Health, Consultant Public Health Physician and Researcher.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Dr. Ellis Owusu-Dabo is a Consultant Public Health Physician, Teacher and Researcher.

As a Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health, his area of expertise is in Medical Epidemiology and applied public health technologies. As a teacher, he has trained undergraduate and postgraduate 2 students, as well as mentored young faculty at both local and international levels.

Ellis is a demonstrable astute university administrator and a research project management consultant. He is highly driven in his research interest area, mainly non-communicable diseases in low-income country settings. He also has considerable interest in population genomics of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Ellis has secured and managed multimillion United States dollar research grants from principal granting institutions such as the European Union, National Institutes of Health (NIH), The World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as well as many bilateral organisations. He serves on several boards at both local and international levels, and has a massive network of individuals and organisations he works with. Dr Owusu-Dabo has published over 250 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. As Perelman International Scholar of the University of Pensylvannia School of Medicine, his passion is in building capacities of next generation scientists and health systems to help solve Africa’s health problems through scientific research collaborations.

Profile

Mabel Namubuya Nangami, PhD

Associate Professor, Health Policy and Health Systems Management

Moi University

Mabel Namubuya Nangami is a distinguished researcher, trainer, and curriculum expert, with over 30 years of extensive experience in teaching and research work. She is currently an Associate Professor in health policy and health systems management and the Dean of the School of Public Health at Moi University. She has facilitated JAS 4 seminar under the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) doctoral program. As a trainer, she has consulted for the Ministry of Health-Kenya on the Leadership and Management support program under Management Sciences for Health to train in Health Systems Management; designed curriculum and manuals on Monitoring and Evaluation of Pillar 1 (HIV & AIDS); and middle-level managers and policymakers in health systems management under the Collaborative project between AMREF & MU. She consulted for the Institute of Health Policy Management and Research (IHPMR) on operations research under the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) for improving Service Delivery in Reproductive Health.

Mabel has been involved in undertaking situation analyses of Human Resources for Health training institutions and their networks in Eastern and Southern Africa, focusing on Health Systems Management activities, and conducted the evaluation of community health programs for Amref Health Africa and the Kenya Red Cross, among others. She has been a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI on several grants and published research on HIV & AIDS, maternal and child health in areas with a policy and health system focus, as well as curriculum development in various areas of public health. She served as deputy project lead and co-Investigator on the NACOSTI/IDRC funded 1st Health Systems Research Chair awarded to Prof. Fabian Esamai at Moi University in 2014-2020, titled: A System Approach to Improving Maternal and Child Health Care Delivery in Kenya: Innovations at the Community Level and Primary Care Facilities. She was also a Co-Principal Investigator for the Cross Border Health Access project (which focuses on HIV&AIDS, delivery, and immunization services) funded by MRC/WELCOME TRUST and awarded to Makerere University in 2018-2020. Currently, she is working as a Co-PI with Prof. Constance Tenge on building the capacity of select counties to prevent Sickle cell disease (SCD) towards building a national registry for SCD and collaborating with the University of Toronto to set up a center of Excellence in health systems strengthening through a primary health care approach towards achieving Universal Health Coverage for devolved health units in Kenya.

Profile

David Gameli Agbeko

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Joining the Mastercard Foundation scholar’s program at UofT was a pivotal moment in my academic journey.

After completing my bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, I was uncertain about my next steps. The transition was demanding, pushing me to find direction and purpose amidst a sea of aspirations. Today, I am extremely grateful for the life-changing opportunity offered by the Mastercard Foundation scholar’s program. It has allowed me to pursue my master’s in Financial Insurance, a field that perfectly aligns with my career ambitions. Through this enriching experience, I am building formidable skills and establishing meaningful connections vital for impact and transformation in Africa.

Profile

Nicholas Kofi Adegbe

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

I am Nicholas Kofi Adegbe from Ghana. Once doubtful of advancing beyond high school, but my life took a pivotal turn with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2018.

Fast forward after undergraduate degree, I got the life changing opportunity from the scholar’s program again to pursue a masters in Financial Insurance at the University of Toronto. The intricate blend of data science and finance in my program doesn’t just add to my academic knowledge; it serves as a catalyst, setting me on a path to reshape financial frameworks.

Beyond academia, the Scholars program’s leadership training has been transformative. Molding me with virtues of integrity and resilience. Equipped with all the necessary resources, I am empowered to inspire young people to leverage technology to solve problems in Africa. With a world-class education and these foundational lessons, I am poised to drive financial innovation with technology, ensuring a prosperous future for many.

Profile

Diana Kaliza

Master Scholar

African Leadership University

Being a Mastercard Scholar has provided me with a profound educational opportunity, equipping me to address the healthcare challenges confronting Africa, particularly in Rwanda.

With firsthand experience of the continent’s healthcare system, I am uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully. I recognize the importance of collaboration in effecting change, and I’m committed to working with fellow scholars, professionals, and organizations to improve healthcare across Africa. Moreover, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to my community by addressing healthcare disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare.

In essence, this scholarship has empowered me to be a force for positive change in the African healthcare system, enabling me to make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals throughout the continent.

Profile

Obed Ehoneah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

I am Obed Ehoneah, pursuing an Executive Master’s in Health Informatics at the esteemed University of Toronto, courtesy of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. 

This transformative journey has not only nurtured my academic aspirations but also created a second home filled with invaluable support and mentorship. Mastercard Foundation has truly paved the way for my academic and personal growth, leaving no stone unturned in supporting my journey. 

As I immerse myself in the program, I find profound passion in solving complex healthcare challenges. Armed with newfound knowledge, I am eager to drive innovative solutions for pressing health issues in Africa. 

Profile

Ebenezer Brefo-Appiah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Hello, I am Ebenezer Brefo-Appiah, and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering here at the University of Toronto as a scholarship recipient.

I live my life each new day counting the blessing of getting to further my education as a scholar here at UofT where innovation meets passion.

My academic journey so far is thrilling, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to immerse myself in cutting-edge technologies and collaborate closely with renowned faculty to utilize state-of-the-art technologies in research projects.

I am elated to witness recent advancements in the biomedical field and l can’t wait to see future advancements.

God bless the Mastercard Foundation and God bless the University!

Profile

Paul Agbekpornu

Master Scholar

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

I’m Paul Agbekpornu from Ghana. At the moment, I am pursuing a master’s in financial insurance at the University of Toronto.

After completing risk theory research addressing the pricing of insurance and reinsurance products, I was apprehensive about pursuing a degree that would complement my research. Fortunately, my desire became a reality thanks to the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program, and I am gaining a strong academic curiosity and sense of purpose at UofT. The extensive training, I am receiving in data science is broadening my knowledge and skills in financial insurance. My scholastic career has begun to shift and reshape thanks to the Mastercard Foundation grant.