The Zambian university named after Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah university – Zambian University Honors Kwame Nkrumah’s Legacy

In the heart of Zambia, nestled in the capital of the Central Province and Kabwe District, is a university that pays homage to a significant African leader Kwame Nkrumah. Named after the first president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Kwame Nkrumah University stands as a testament to the enduring impact of Nkrumah’s legacy beyond Ghana’s borders.

Unlike Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Zambian University is known as Kwame Nkrumah University. A recent exploration of the Kwame Nkrumah university’s website unveiled its origins—established in 1967 as Kabwe Teachers Training College. Initially focused on training Junior Secondary School Teachers, the institution underwent a transformation when Zambia’s President at the time, Kenneth Kaunda, chose to rename it in honor of Kwame Nkrumah.

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This revelation surfaced through a post shared by Ghanaian sports journalist Saddick Adams, prompting a wave of responses. Ghanaians flooded the comments section, expressing appreciation to the Zambian government for recognizing and commemorating Nkrumah’s contributions. However, some comments also addressed the paradox of Nkrumah being celebrated abroad while facing criticism at home.

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A user named Cosmos Anyasu Eyram reflected on this, stating, “He is celebrated, and his books are being studied in another country but being criticized in his country. A man’s enemy is his household ampa.” Others echoed sentiments of enduring respect for Nkrumah’s legacy, emphasizing that his impact on the continent of Africa would never fade.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, assumed power in 1957 following the efforts of the ‘Big Six’ in securing independence from British colonial rule. Despite his overthrow by the military in 1966, Nkrumah’s influence persists, resonating not only in Ghana but also across borders, as evidenced by the honor bestowed upon him by University in Zambia.