A new chapter in Ghana’s technical higher education unfolded at the 24th Regular Meeting of the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G), with the official welcome of Ing. Prof. Hamidatu S. Darimani, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU), into the association. Her presence at the meeting marks a significant national milestone, as she becomes only the second female Vice Chancellor in the history of Ghana’s Technical Universities, after Prof. Mrs. Smile Dzisi of Koforidua Technical University, who served from 2017 to 2018.
Prof. Darimani assumes leadership at DHLTU following the tenure of Prof. Sir Elias N. K. Sowley, a respected academic leader and former Chair of VCTU-G. Her introduction into the community was met with warm words of welcome from the Chair of VCTU-G, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, who expressed delight at her appointment and extended the association’s fullest support. He assured her that the body of Vice Chancellors would offer both strategic direction and collegial solidarity as she undertakes her new role. He emphasized that VCTU-G thrives on collaboration, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, and that her inclusion further enriches the association’s diversity and strength.
In her response, Prof. Darimani conveyed heartfelt appreciation for what she described as a “gracious and dignified reception.” She acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with her new role and expressed her readiness to work closely with her colleagues. Emphasizing openness to consultation, dialogue, and partnership, she pledged to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the technical university sector and to support the collective agenda of VCTU-G.
The Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) is the official coordinating body for all ten public Technical Universities in Ghana. The association provides a platform for policy dialogue, academic cooperation, sector-wide reform, and strategic leadership across the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) landscape. Its regular conferences serve as opportunities to reflect on progress, address emerging challenges, and promote collaboration among institutional heads for the continuous improvement of technical university education in the country.
Prof. Darimani brings with her a wealth of academic, research, and administrative experience. She is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering with a specialization in Soil and Water Engineering, and the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at DHLTU. Her academic background includes a PhD in Water Science Technology from the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Burkina Faso, and both an MSc and a Postgraduate Diploma in Water Resources Engineering and Management from the University of Birmingham, UK. She is a professional engineer and member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE).
Her career spans over 18 years of teaching, research, and project leadership in fields such as irrigation system design, agro-waste management, composting and soil fertilization, drainage engineering, rural infrastructure, and renewable energy. Her appointment is widely seen as a reinforcement of the technical university sector’s commitment to academic excellence, sustainability, and gender-responsive leadership.