A co-founder of the Strategic Engineering Experience Drive Afrique (SEEDAfrique), Mr Billy James Kofi Dega, has received his award from the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) as the 2022-23 International Member of the Year in Accra.
The award winner was announced on March 25 at the 49th Annual Convention of the NSBE in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
NSBE Director of Process Improvement Special Interest Group (PI SIG), La Sheena Thompson, presented the famous Golden Torch Award to Billy James in Accra on Tuesday during her working visit to Ghana.
The award was the latest in the cabinet of the engineer cum sports enthusiast, who swept a top sports award in 2021.
He was adjudged one of the winners of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Fit for Life Photo contest for the year 2021.
This was after an extensive research work and submitted photos on an innovative sports science day at Dansoman-based, Calvary Stars Academy.
Other notable Ghanaians to have won the award including Ghana’s celebrated quiz mistress of the National Maths and Science competition, Prof. Elsie Effah Kauffmann, former Dean of School of Physical Sciences, the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Samuel Yeboah Mensah; former Provost of College of Engineering, KNUST, Prof. Innocent Kofi Ampadu and Mariama Alidu, a former student of KNUST.
Current NSBE Ghana Advisor, Mr Kweku Fleming, received the award on behalf of Billy James at the March 25 ceremony, where he extolled the virtues and qualities of the award recipient.
The award citation indicated the recipient’s development and establishment of new chapters across Africa and the promotion of STEM education and career path; helped pioneer NSBE’s first East Africa conference, and leading scores of workshops for PCI and Women in Science and Engineering.
NSBE has in the past recognised the enviable achievements of Ghanaians in STEM education. The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was founded in 1975.
It is a student-run organisation, with core activities centered on improving the recruitment and retention of Black and other minority engineers, in both academia, industry and sports
BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER
