Edward Ato Sarpong, Managing Director of ADB
The Managing Director of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC, Edward Ato Sarpong, has urged students pursuing agriculture to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as key tools in transforming Ghana’s agribusiness landscape.
He made the call during this year’s Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue (AG-STUD) Boot Camp.
The boot camp, organised by the Agrihouse Foundation with ADB as a sponsor, brings together students from various agricultural institutions across the country to connect them with industry leaders and foster their entrepreneurial growth.
As part of the week-long program, the students and organizers paid a courtesy call on the management of ADB.
In his remarks, Ato Sarpong encouraged the students to shift their mindset from traditional, subsistence farming to agripreneurship, a modern approach that integrates innovation, technology, value addition, and sustainable practices into the agricultural value chain.
“You are not just students of agriculture; you are the future leaders of Ghana’s agricultural value chain. Your role in building a resilient and modern agribusiness sector cannot be overemphasised,” he stated.
Underscoring the critical need for youth-led solutions in transforming agriculture and other businesses, Ato Sarpong urged participants to take advantage of platforms like AG-STUD to sharpen their skills, network with mentors, and develop business ideas that can scale and create employment and wealth.
The ADB MD reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering the youth through tailored financing, capacity-building, and internship opportunities, citing AG-STUD as an essential bridge between academic theory and practical application.
“In addition to our Student Save Account, the Bank intends to launch innovative funding schemes that will provide easy access to capital for agric students and young entrepreneurs in the agricultural value chain and other key sectors of the economy,” he disclosed.
The General Manager in charge of Agribusiness, Kwame Asiedu Attrams, stated that ADB is proud to remain a sponsor of the AG-STUD Boot Camp, as it reinforces the Bank’s commitment to investing in a new generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs who can drive wealth creation and economic growth.
Expressing appreciation, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Akorsah, thanked ADB for its continued support of AG-STUD initiatives, agricultural education, and entrepreneurship in Ghana.
This year’s AG-STUD Boot Camp, which ends on Friday, May 9, 2025, is being attended by 125 students competitively selected from 23 institutions, including universities and tertiary agricultural colleges across the country.