Ho Technical University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ben Honyenuga, has been conferred with the prestigious African Excellence Award at the closing ceremony of the 7th Pan African Youth Forum and 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA), held in Durban, South Africa.
The award—the highest honour bestowed by ATUPA—recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across the continent. Prof. Honyenuga was celebrated for his visionary leadership, strategic advocacy, and unwavering commitment to promoting the African TVET education agenda.
Receiving the award, a visibly surprised Prof. Honyenuga expressed deep appreciation to ATUPA for the recognition, and assured the gathering of his continued dedication to the association’s mission of advancing technical and vocational education across Africa.
Prof. Honyenuga’s continental impact is well established. He has served as an Executive Board Member of ATUPA, participated as an Expert Delegate at the African Union Commission’s “Africa Talks Jobs” Conference on Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion in Addis Ababa (2018), and contributed as a Team Member in developing the 2024–2028 Strategic Plan on Education for Africa for the Association Africa (ADEA).
This year’s conference, held from August 25 to August 29, 2025, convened education leaders, policymakers, and youth representatives under the theme:
“Empowering Africa through TVET—Driving Sustainable Development, Youth Empowerment, and Economic Integration in the Era of Industry 4.0.”
Prof. Honyenuga’s recognition stands as a proud moment for Ho Technical University and Ghana, reinforcing their role in shaping Africa’s educational future and empowering the next generation of innovators and changemakers.
About Prof. Honyenuga
Professor Ben Quarshie Honyenuga- Vice Chancellor, Ho Technical University, Ghana. Professor Ben Quarshie Honyenuga’s career is a remarkable story of perseverance, vision, and transformative leadership.
Rising from humble beginnings, Prof. Ben Honyenuga has a Certificate in Management of Higher Education Institutes, Galilee, Israel, He obtained a PhD degree in Management from the Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen and a Master of Philosophy Degree from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. Prof. Honyenuga also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree by research from University of Ghana Business School and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
He rose through the ranks to become the first Professor at Ho Technical University (HTU) and its first substantive Vice- Chancellor, combining academic excellence with impactful service at institutional, national, and international levels.
He has served as an Executive Board Member of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA), Expert Participant at the African Union Commission Conference on Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion in Africa (Africa Talks Jobs, Addis Ababa, 2018), and Team Member in developing the Strategic Plan 2024–2028 on Education for Africa for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
His leadership in major global research initiatives includes the UNIDO Circular Economy Project, Skills Initiative for Africa Project, International Solar Alliance Renewable Energy Project, GIZ Green People’s Energy Project, Erasmus+ collaborations among others.
He was an Evaluation Performance Management Consultant of the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies under the FOAT system under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
At HTU, he has been a driving force in institutional transformation, from establishing the Dean of Students Foundation to support needy but brilliant students, to chairing key committees that have advanced governance, academic quality, and infrastructure.
Prof. Honyenuga was an Executive Board Member of ATUPA, Expert Participant of the African Union Commission Conference on Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion in Africa, a team member for the Strategic Plan 2024–2028 on Education for Africa, a member of Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and also served as Board Chairman, Volta Waste Ltd., a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies.