Mentorship Sessions Ep. 11: Joseph Berkoh Shares Insight On Future-Ready STEM Careers

The eleventh episode of the 2025 Mentorship Sessions took place at Chemu Senior High Technical School and centred on the theme “Tomorrow’s Innovators: Navigating STEM Careers for a Changing World.” The session featured Joseph Berkoh, a lead consultant on Partnerships for the African Union’s AI Continental Strategy. The discussion highlighted the wide range of opportunities available to students within the STEM field and underscored the importance of building a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

He began by recounting his academic journey, which started with studying Business at PRESEC to satisfy his parents’ wishes, even though he had always aspired to pursue Science and eventually become a medical doctor. At the tertiary level, he redirected his path by specialising in Mathematics and Statistics, a shift that laid the groundwork for his future in STEM.

However, after graduating from university, he made a bold decision to pivot his career and use technology to address community-based challenges. Through research, continuous learning, and self-discovery, he successfully transitioned into the tech space.

He further emphasised the expansive nature of STEM, noting that students who may not have pursued STEM-related subjects at the pre-tertiary level can still transition into STEM careers with the right mindset, training, and exposure.

He urged students to actively seek out opportunities, including specialised bootcamps, that would help them strengthen their AI competencies. According to him, self-development is essential for achieving self-discovery. To illustrate this, he encouraged students to become committed readers, noting that consistent reading broadens understanding and deepens knowledge in areas of interest. He further advised them to study diligently and build strong foundational skills in STEM, stressing the crucial role these core abilities play.

“No matter what field you are trying to pursue in STEM, you need very core, critical foundational skills so that you can leverage them well. The whole interdisciplinary context of STEM is very broad. If your foundational structure is not strong you will find it difficult to branch into STEM.” He noted.

Joseph added that identifying problems within society and seeking ways to solve them can open individuals up to job prospects and emerging opportunities. He also noted that social media and other digital tools can serve as meaningful avenues for creating career pathways in today’s technology-driven world.

In his concluding remarks, he implored students to place their confidence in themselves and commit to hard work. He further encouraged them to embrace creativity and apply it boldly, noting that innovation thrives when young people are willing to think differently and challenge existing norms. 

The 2025 edition of the STEM Festival is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by Trustur AI, Jupay, GTP and YFM.