A pioneering initiative has been unveiled in Cape Coast, marking the launch of a collaborative network of Enterprise and Innovation Hubs across seven public universities.
This innovative project aims to empower the youth, particularly students from these institutions, by equipping them with the necessary skills to not only create employment for themselves but also others within their communities.
With the backdrop of approximately 150,000 university graduates entering the job market each year, this network plans to nurture 30,000 young entrepreneurs annually.
The objective is to cultivate a new generation of job creators, thereby significantly reducing the youth unemployment rate.
Dr. George Acheampong, Coordinator for the University of Ghana Business School Innovation Hub shared insights into the initiative’s core ethos following its inauguration expressing their intent to give practical skills to students.
He highlighted a shift from theoretical entrepreneurship training to practical, hands-on experience.
“Now clearly, a lot of the training is theoretically driven, so, they talk about entrepreneurship and they go through seminars and that’s about it but this time we are working hands-on so that’s how they come into the innovation hub and they receive hands-on training,” he emphasized.
Further underscoring the programme’s dedication to reshaping students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship, Dr. Acheampong noted that this effort is not only about job creation but a strategic move to instil a culture of innovation and self-reliance among young scholars.
These scholars, according to him, would be able to create jobs for themselves and others annually adding that “we tend to do that by giving them a mind shift so that they have a positive view about entrepreneurship,”
On his part Mr. Richard Kwesi Shiangbor, Ag. Director of Programmes and Partnership with the British Council revealed the preparedness of the Council and the UK Government to support Institutions that collaborate to train students to be job creators and not only job seekers.
“So, you had some of them, you have St Andrews, you have the Imperial College of London, Coventry University. Most universities are ready to partner with our local institutions to ensure that curriculum development in entrepreneurship is key. So that at least in the future, for, let’s say, the next five to ten years, our students graduating from the universities should have a habit of building up their own business.”
Among the public universities that have formed the Higher Education Intuitions Network are the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Technical University, the University of Ghana, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Akenteng Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, University of Sustainable Development and University of Professional Studies with other partnering agencies like the National Service Secretariat, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, National Youth Authority, World Bank and USAID.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
