Founder of Ashesi Patrick Awuah wins $500,000 WISE Prize for Education

Europa 15:33 - 16 November 2017

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, presented the Prize to Mr Awuah at the Opening Plenary session of the eighth World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha, Qatar.

Over 2,000 participants from 100 countries were present at the event.

Mr. Awuah said: "I decided to create a new university in Ghana, not because of a lack of universities in my country, but a lack of universities teaching 21st-century skills.

He said, “There was too much emphasis on rote learning and memorization, much less on critical or independent thinking, ethics or collaboration.”

“I decided to open a university that would offer young Ghanaians and Africans the opportunity to excel and become problem solvers - the next leaders of Africa," he added.