It was organised by ofi Ghana Limited and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The participants, comprising 16 senior high school students and eight tertiary students, interacted with women professionals in diverse STEM fields, including Engineering, Pharmacy, Renewable Energy, Food Science, Biomedical Sciences and Scientific Research, under the theme:“A Day in the Life of a STEM Professional.”

The initiative, held to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, sought to deepen the girls’ understanding of STEM careers, broaden their aspirations and inspire long-term ambitions in Science-related disciplines.

Seven of the students visited ofi’s processing facility at Kaase in Kumasi, where they shadowed professionals and gained practical insight into industrial operations, while 17 others toured the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), interacting with women STEM professionals for hands-on learning and career guidance.

The sessions exposed the students to real workplace environments, helping them appreciate career pathways they might not have previously considered, and enabling them to relate classroom learning to practical applications.

The programme was organised by ofi Ghana Limited, a Licensed Buying Company in the cocoa sector, in partnership with female lecturers at KNUST, through the company’s Women Network, Globally Reaching ofi Women (GROW), and the university’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM) branch.

The mentorship aligns with ofi’s sustainability strategy, Choices for Change, which prioritises vocational training and work opportunities for young people in agriculture, with a focus on building resilient and sustainable supply chains.

Mr Eric Asare Botwe, Country Head of ofi Ghana, said the initiative was designed to empower the next generation to realise their full potential while strengthening the future of agricultural value chains.

Mrs Sylvia Amo-Asare, President of GROW, said early exposure and mentorship could significantly shape a young person’s academic and career journey, noting that direct engagement with STEM professionals helps students visualise possibilities and pursue them with confidence.

Ofi Ghana and KNUST’s WiSTEM indicated that the mentorship programme would be sustained through structured guidance and continuous engagement to ensure lasting impact on the beneficiaries.

Ofi, an operating group of Olam International, operates across Cocoa, Coffee, Dairy, Nuts and Spices, with a global value chain that spans farming, sourcing and manufacturing, delivering sustainable and traceable food solutions to meet evolving consumer demands.