Draft:Albert Yaw Opoku


Albert Yaw Opoku

Albert Yaw Opoku, born November 18, 1980, is a Ghanaian entrepreneur known for his work in technology, education, and social initiatives. Opoku's career has spanned the public and private sectors. He worked for the British Council in various capacities, including managing digital services for sub-Saharan Africa and leading school project teams in Ghana. In 2010, he co-founded Hapaweb Solutions, a tech company, and HapaSpace, a tech hub that supports startups in Ghana.[1][2][3][4] He has been involved in securing a grant through Google to launch Code4Girls, a project that provided coding training for over 1,000 girls.[5] Albert is also a published author.[6][7]

Education

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Opoku earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration (Accounting) from the University of Ghana, where he studied from 2001 to 2005. In 2016, Opoku was awarded the Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Bath in the UK.[8][9][10] He also has a Certificate in Technology Innovation from Stanford University in the USA.

Career

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Albert possesses over 17 years of experience across social development, entrepreneurship, technology, and social enterprise.

Published Works

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In April 2015, Albert published his first book, "What I Learnt Late: 52 Life Lessons," in both print and electronic formats. The book presents a collection of wisdom derived from the author's personal experiences, aiming to inspire readers to reflect and grow.[11]

Albert's second book, "How to Quit Your Job and Become an Entrepreneur," offers guidance for individuals seeking to leave traditional employment and pursue entrepreneurial ventures.[12]

A third book by Albert, featuring 52 stories from various African contexts that impart life lessons, is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2024.

Recognition

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Albert Yaw Opoku has received several notable achievements and recognitions throughout his career.

In 2016, Opoku was awarded the Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Bath.[9] Opoku has also spoken at international events such as London ICT4D and the Tech in Ghana Conference in London.[13]

In 2016, Opoku secured a $10,000 grant through the Google Educator’s program to launch Code4Girls, a project that trained over 1000 girls in computer programming in Ghana. Google recognized this project during the 10-year milestone of their grant program.[5]

In 2020, he was invited to deliver a graduation speech for the Computer Science department's graduating class at the University of Bath.

In 2020, Opoku was honored with the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards Global Winner accolade in the Social Impact category.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Hapa Space". VC4A. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  2. ^ "hapaSpace | Ghana Ecosystem Snapshot". ghana.ecomap.tech. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  3. ^ "70 Ghanaian start-ups under AfriConEU project exposed to African market opportunities - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  4. ^ Mugendi, Eric (2016-02-15). "There is no co-working space in Kumasi. So these guys opened one". TechCabal. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  5. ^ a b "#Code4Girls" 6-month coding class for girls in 10 senior high schools held in Kumasi - AmeyawDebrah.com". 2018-02-26. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  6. ^ "How to Quit Your Job and Become an Entrepreneur by Albert Opoku Paperback Book". eBay. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  7. ^ "What I Learnt Late: 52 Life Lessons – Booknook.store". Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  8. ^ "British Council celebrates UK alumni in Ghana - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  9. ^ a b c "Bath graduate wins global Alumni Award". www.bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  10. ^ "British Council celebrates UK alumni in Ghana".
  11. ^ Opoku, Albert (2022-11-13). What I learnt Late - 52 Life Lessons. WordWorks. ISBN 978-9988-3-4405-4.
  12. ^ "How to Quit Your Job and Become an Entrepreneur by Albert Opoku Paperback Book". eBay. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  13. ^ "Albert Opoku – Tech In Ghana". techinghanaconference.com. Retrieved 2024-06-26.