News and Events

Discover the latest developments and upcoming events of the Collaborative.

News & Events

Photo of Emmanuella Seyram Avornyoh

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Photo of Emmanuella Nana Debreh Twumwaa Akowuah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Emmanuel Evo Ocran

Finance Manager, Africa Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

, MSc, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Photo of Ellis Owusu-Dabo

, PhD

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Photo of Martin Bartels Awortwe

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Maxwell Osei-Ampofo

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

Profile

Emmanuella Seyram Avornyoh

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

I am Emmanuella Seyram Avornyoh from Ghana. I graduated from the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where I was introduced to the broader discipline of Biological Sciences. Following my B.Sc., I served my mandatory National Service at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), where my interest in Public Health-related research was stimulated.

Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program, my goal of pursuing further studies has become a reality. I am currently taking an MPH in environmental health at U of T which completely aligns with my long-term career ambition of becoming a professor and a researcher in the field.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mastercard and the University of Toronto for their generosity in admitting and funding my colleagues and me. I haven’t done much with the program yet, but based on the quality of the tuition, it already appears to be highly beneficial. I am convinced that the time I am investing in this program will help me become an innovator in the field of environmental health.

Profile

Emmanuella Nana Debreh Twumwaa Akowuah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

One of the most enriching experiences was the opportunity to engage in a vibrant and diverse academic community.

The scholarship not only provided financial support but also opened doors to various academic and extracurricular activities that have enhanced my experience at the University. Networking opportunities with fellow scholars and professors allowed me to connect with leading experts in my discipline and gain insights into the latest developments in the field. These interactions were invaluable for both my academic and professional growth.

Profile

Emmanuel Evo Ocran

Finance Manager, Africa Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Emmanuel Ebo Ocran is the Finance Manager of the Health Collaborative.

He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana and an alumnus of KNUST. He is currently a Senior Accountant and Head of the University Central Payroll. He has over 16 years of experience in programming of accounting information systems and internet of things (IOT), budgeting and financial management. Emmanuel has served as Head of University Budget. Emmanuel has been engaged (proposal writing, budgeting through to implementation) in all Mastercard Foundation programs at KNUST since 2013 (Scholars Program, Advancing health care in Africa and the E-learning initiatives) as the Finance Manager.

Profile

Eva Boakye-Yiadom, MSc, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Eva Boakye-Yiadom, Project Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Health Collaborative, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Eva has great expertise in administration, audit, accounting, and project management. Eva is a PhD candidate at the KNUST School of Business. She holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from Christian Service University, Kumasi Ghana, Masters in Business Administration, from the Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom and Bachelor of Management Studies from KNUST.

Profile

Ellis Owusu-Dabo, PhD

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Office of the Vice-Chancellor

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

Martin Bartels Awortwe

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

It is a wider opportunity to be a Mastercard Scholar.

The foundation has made it possible to pursue higher learning and commit to a scholarly life. The enabling environment provided by the Mastercard Foundation has equipped me to face the various challenges that come along with graduate studies. As a Master of Public Health student (Environmental Public Health emphasis) at the University of Toronto, I am a step closer to achieving my academic and career goals of preventing diseases, improving the health of populations and communities, and ensuring sustainability of the environment.

Profile

Maxwell Osei-Ampofo

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

So far, my experience with the Mastercard Foundation has been phenomenal.

The staff has been incredibly helpful from day one to the present. I felt so welcomed to the city of Toronto; I was chauffeured from Pearson airport to Graduate House, where my room was already prepared with a greeting basket containing amenities for my stay. The organization has ensured that I am fully prepared for academic and social life. I am extremely appreciative for this opportunity.

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.