A final year student at the Department of Construction and Wood Technology of the College of Technology Education, Kumasi, Gladys Boanerges Anku, has emerged winner of the first edition of the Chartered Institute of Building, Ghana (CIOB-GH) Innovative student award.

The CIOB-Gh Best Innovative Student Awards scheme was instituted last year to stimulate innovation and creativity in the built-environment students of tertiary institutions in Ghana (Universities and Polytechnics).  It is also to position students in the built-environment to become competitive to meet global standards in the 21st Century by stimulating innovative and creative thinking skills in students and thereby deal with graduate unemployment challenges. The award scheme is also expected to also develop leadership skills that will be achieved from the wide network of CIOB global professionals.

The CIOB panel of judges recommended Madam Boanerges Anku as the overall Best Innovative Student, 2014 after evaluating her research topic: “Options for Minimizing Energy Consumption in Buildings.” Among others, the objective of Gladys' research project was to "examine energy efficiency of public buildings in Ghana and make recommendations for realizing energy efficiency in such buildings."

She was presented with the award involving a certificate and a laptop valued at Two Thousand Ghana (GHC 2,000.00) at the graduation ceremony of the College of Technology Education, University of Education Winneba, Kumasi on 4^th December 2014.

She beat competition from two other final students from the same department, Nutakor Gabriel Light and Ankobea Yaw.

The Department of Construction and Wood Technology of the College of Technology Education, Kumasi is the first Institution to take advantage of this opportunity offered by CIOB for its students to benefit from this prestigious award scheme.  

CIOB-Ghana is to partner private or public sector enterprises to attract sponsorship to sustain the award scheme. Berock Ventures Limited, one of the biggest Ghanaian construction companies, sponsored this year’s award.