UEW Ignites Digital Transformation with AyaHQ Blockchain Summit
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has hosted the AyaHQ Blockchain Summit under the theme “Tech Root, Global Dreams: Bridging Campus Innovation with the Blockchain World,” to bridging the gap between academia and technology.
The event, organised by the Department of ICT Education, brought together top industry leaders, tech innovators and students in a powerful call for a digital renaissance across Ghana’s educational landscape.
Prof. Delali Kwasi Dake, Head of the Department of ICT Education, described the summit as a hub for “exploration, inspiration, and collaboration.” He urged students to embrace blockchain technology not as a future possibility but as a present necessity that could empower them to shape the future of digital trust, finance, governance and data.
Delivering the keynote, Mr. Eric Annan, CEO and Co-founder of AyaHQ, challenged students to become producers of technology rather than mere consumers. Emphasising hands-on learning, entrepreneurship and self-education, he outlined the PACE framework—Problem-solving, Adaptability, Creativity and Empathy—as the new currency for success in a world rapidly evolving through AI and blockchain. “Your certificate will not pay you; only problem-solving will,” he said.
Mr. Michael Lawal, AyaHQ’s VP of Global Strategy and Partnerships, underscored the need for mindset transformation and value creation. Sharing his journey from poverty to advising global leaders, he called on students to declare, “It ends with me,” symbolising a break from limiting narratives. “The world no longer needs permission to include you—you must include yourself,” he said, highlighting UEW’s clean environment and structured discipline as markers of global readiness.
The summit featured a dynamic panel discussion with Dr. Stephen Opoku Oppong, moderated by Kwame Stalwart, that explored how universities can serve as engines of innovation. Dr. Oppong emphasised the importance of establishing robust academia-industry partnerships, nurturing student technology communities and expanding internship opportunities.
The event also spotlighted student innovation in action. A UEW student, John, wowed attendees with his blockchain-based decentralised dating app “Winneba Connect,” earning a $500 investment from AyaHQ. The platform leverages blockchain’s zero-knowledge proofs for secure identity and social interaction, showcasing the type of local solution with global relevance that the summit aimed to inspire.
The event featured three tech-focused platforms presented by Mr. Kwame Stalwart (AyaLabs), Mr. Kwaku Amoakohene (LearnWay), and Mr. Sarso Nartey (Crypto Momo). AyaLabs encourages students to join hackathons, showcase their skills, and collaborate on projects, offering rewards like cash and NFTs. LearnWay promotes self-paced learning in blockchain and cryptocurrency through a mobile app, helping students prepare for the digital economy. Crypto Momo introduced a simple USSD-based crypto wallet system, allowing users to send and receive tokens via phone numbers. Each speaker emphasized the importance of seizing digital opportunities and becoming creators in the evolving tech space.
To facilitate this, AyaHQ introduced AyaLabs, a decentralised innovation platform where students can join or form organisations, participate in global hackathons and earn from their contributions. The department announced plans to create a UEW-based blockchain community through the platform.
