In an attempt to arrest the problem of unemployment among university graduates in the country, which sometimes discourages most qualified students from entering into universities, the Department of Development Management and Policy Studies of the Faculty of Sustainable Development Studies has organised an entrepreneurship seminar for all final year students of the faculty.

The seminar was aimed at unlocking the potentials of the students and empowering them with innovative and entrepreneurial proficiencies to determine their own futures. It was under the theme, "Entrepreneurship – the alternative to addressing the high rate of unemployment”.

According to the lecturer behind the organisation of the seminar, Mr. Abdul Rashid Iddrissu, the seminar was the 5th in the series, which have all been organised under the broad theme “Empowering the Youth through Entrepreneurship”. 

According to Mr. Iddrissu, the purpose of the seminars is to educate students on general knowledge in all aspects of entrepreneurship and small business management. The Seminars also seek to throw light on professional and business ethics. “The main idea is to create awareness and knowledge of opportunities, challenges, characteristics, attitudes and skills needed for successful entrepreneurship, venture creation and networking”, he said.

This year’s seminar was chaired by Dr. Adams Sulemana Achanso Dean, Faculty of Sustainable Development Studies, UDS.

Dr. Achanso said over the years, the seminars have been helpful in getting students to appreciate the relationship between concepts and principles of entrepreneurship and small business management and its prospects and challenges as well as how to manage and sustain businesses in Ghana. He added that SHS graduates who do not make all the required grades can take advantage of the faculty’s certificate and diploma courses to climb the academic ladder.

The Head of Department, Dr. Abdul Rahim Mohammed encouraged students to try their best not to wait for government recruitment but rather focus on entrepreneurship which will also earn them a living.

The guest speaker Mr. Mathew Azoya who is a business expert and currently the Regional Director for Ghana Enterprise Agency commended UDS for the innovation, particularly the entrepreneurship programme for final year students. “These are laudable things which must be applauded,” he said, while encouraging students to spread the message of entrepreneurship.

Adding his voice to the conversation, the Director of UDS Business Innovation and Incubation Center, Dr. Richard Yeboah said, his office is open to any student or group of students who have business ideas to come for support in order to make their dreams come true.

Ten groups of students presented their ideas to a panel of three judges drawn from the world of business and academia. Out of the 10 groups, three were adjudged as having presented the best business ideas and were presented with cash to help them further develop their ideas. The winners took home GHC5,000, while the first runners up took home GHC 3,000 and the second runners-up took home GHC2,000

The cash prizes were donated by Might Gh Ltd and S.Kaleem Ltd with an amount of GHC5,000 each, making a total of GHC10,000.

Story by:
Iddrisu Abdul Malik (University Relations)