Ghanaian Paramount Chief of the Effutu traditional area and Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Neenyi Ghartey VII, visited Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies recently.
The August visitor was received by the Institute’s Director, Professor Nduka Otiono, in the company of Professor Eugene Fletcher of the Department of Biology at Carleton University, Benjamin Offei, a Carleton alumnus, and Mr. Ghartey Jnr who joined from Montreal. Carleton Journalism professor, Nana Aba Duncan, also joined the group.
The visit enabled Neenyi Ghartey VII to learn more about the Institute’s research, teaching and community-engagement activities. He was given a tour of the Institute and had an opportunity to briefly attend the Building Futures through Indigenous African Knowledge conference that was underway at the Institute during his visit.
The visit on Tuesday August 25 provided a platform for Neenyi Ghartey VII and Professor Otiono to exchange ideas and discuss areas of mutual interest, particularly the potential for education and research collaboration between Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies and the University of Education, Winneba.
As a traditional leader and university chancellor, Neenyi Ghartey VII brings remarkable perspectives from community leadership, culture and higher education. His visit highlighted the importance of building connections between African and Canadian institutions and creating opportunities for collaborative research, knowledge exchange and educational partnerships.
Neenyi Ghartey VII noted that Professor Otiono’s “presentation on the Institute’s multidisciplinary approach, its rich academic programs, and its dynamic role in shaping global and cross-cultural perspectives particularly within Africa will have far reaching prospects for the African continent and its people.” He concluded: “We are pleased to note that the work you and your entire colleagues are doing to champion African scholarship and community engagement will have a lasting positive impact on stewardship in Africa and a lasting impression on your university.
