Prof. Awuah who delivered the lecture at the maiden lecture of the Professor Margaret Gyapong Annual Mentorship Programme for Female Students and Academics lecture said the world approached an era of acute resource depletion, women could lead efforts at sustainability, considering their reputation in the management of resources.

She said therefore that the girl child should be positioned to help lead humanity through the epoch of super innovative material engineering and nanotechnology.

The Professor noted that rising achievements by females in the world of science proved the potential of the girl child in the molecular and atomic levels of engineering, now required in the production of more refined products.

“Women are known as the custodians of resources, and we should begin to look at disciplines in material engineering and nanotechnology.

“In the future, the girl child will have to work outside the home, and she must have the skills. The girl child is mentally strong. Girls are excelling at engineering among other disciplines” she said.

Prof Awuah pointed out the increasing threat of cybercrimes, which placed strong demand on artificial intelligence technology, and said digital training for the girl child should be considered “very very vital”.

She urged universities to consider avenues to introducing engineering sciences to help provide the needed opportunities, adding,” The girl child has a lot of opportunities, and we must harness her wisdom.

“She needs to be alerted all the time. She needs skills in cybernetics and critical and analytical thinking.”

The Professor said known challenges to the development of the girl child persisted, among the cultural stance against women which is helping maintain worsening abuse.

She stated further that with lowering ages for puberty, more girls would be faced early with abuses including denigration during monthly blood cycles, and sexual harassment.

Prof Awuah said the Government, therefore, had a key role to play in supporting female advancement and should include good schools and facilities, as well as educational policies.

“The girl child is so precious but because of her reproductive role, she is very vulnerable. She must be protected. She does not know many things and she must learn. She must be trained to read and write, and she will be the woman she wants to be,” she stated.

The Professor urged parents to provide opportunities for their daughters to acquire soft skills including music, and to train them to love and care for others.

The University instituted the mentorship programme to honour renowned Ghanaian female research scientist Margaret Gyapong, who is the Director of the UHAS Institute of Health Research.

Prof Awuah said Margaret Gyapong, who had risen through a childhood of the humblest beginnings, bore a guiding torch for girls.

“Margaret is a perfect example for girls. You can do anything you want if you are really determined. The girl child has potential. She does not have to think that you must depend on a man to make it,” she said.

Prof. Margaret Gyapong was born and raised in the port city of Tema and was a Director of the Dodowa Research Institute following exceptional successes at the Navrongo Health Research Center.

She is known for her work on the deployment of rectal artesunate for the initial of severe malaria in children, and the University, at its sixth congregation in April 2022, conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on Prof. Gyapong and celebrated her numerous achievements, which include about 116 scientific publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

She also serves on numerous boards and committees, including Sight Savers Board of Trustees, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute External Review Board.

She was among 12 women worldwide to receive the first Heroines of Health award in 2017 for her work on exposing the needs of women suffering from the consequences of neglected tropical diseases.

In October 2021, Prof. Gyapong was adjudged “Most Outstanding Female Scientist” by the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDTCP) for her contributions to reducing poverty-related diseases.

She donated the entire 20,000 EUR prize to establish the UHAS Needy Female Students’ Support Fund.

Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer of the Jospong Group of Companies, also donated 100,000 dollars towards the initiative.

Prof Gyapong said the Fund would provide support fees, hostel accommodation, and personal upkeep, and would be named the “Dora Gertrude Quaye Memorial Fund” to honour her late mother, a “selfless sacrificial mom” who threw down everything to raise three daughters after they lost their father.

Beneficiaries of the Fund would be expected to maintain a certain grade.

“We have made this donation for UHAS so that somebody who is struggling would be able to have some support,” Prof. Gyapong assured.