By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi Sept. 0 4, GNA – Mr. Simon-Peter Addai, the Acting Dean of the School of Business, Christ Apostolic University College (CAUC), has urged university students to develop entrepreneurial skills and begin, while still in school, to create solutions, to societal problems
He said students should not depend solely on government and private sector employment after graduation but must equip themselves with practical skills to establish businesses and create jobs for themselves and others.
Mr. Addai said entrepreneurship offered an important pathway for young people to become economically self-reliant, particularly at a time when securing formal employment could be challenging.
He was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during the University’s SRC Business Week celebration in Kumasi, held on the theme: “Innovative Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Ghana.”
He said the University had deliberately incorporated entrepreneurship into the SRC Week to expose students to practical skills beyond classroom learning and help them identify opportunities that could be transformed into viable businesses.
He advised: “Don’t wait to complete school.
“Meanwhile, whilst you are in school, discuss with your friends, find a need, find a problem somewhere and look for ways that you can help solve these things.”
Mr. Addai said students did not necessarily need significant capital to begin but could start small by identifying everyday challenges and developing affordable solutions to them.
He cited delivery services and prepared-food businesses as examples of opportunities that could emerge from identifying changing consumer needs and lifestyles.
He said starting businesses while in school would enable students to gain experience, build a reputation and earn the trust of customers, giving them a stronger foundation to expand their ventures after graduation.
Mr. Addai said the Business Week was therefore designed to move students beyond theoretical knowledge and provide them with practical exposure in entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, work readiness and other areas relevant to the modern business environment.
The programme began with discussions on entrepreneurship, creativity and the ability to identify and take advantage of business opportunities.
A work-readiness seminar was also organised to equip students with skills in preparing job applications and curricula vitae, as well as techniques for performing successfully at job interviews.
The students were subsequently introduced to artificial intelligence, with emphasis on its responsible use, cybersecurity implications and practical applications in business and academia.
They were also taken through practical entrepreneurial skills, including the production of bleach and after-wash or fabric softener, and were guided on how to transform such skills into business opportunities.
Mr. Addai said the practical sessions were intended to demonstrate to students that entrepreneurship could begin with simple skills and gradually develop into sustainable businesses.
He said the University recognised that university education should go beyond lectures, examinations and the acquisition of certificates, and should expose students to experiences that prepared them for life and work.
He urged students to cultivate an independent mindset and actively seek opportunities to solve problems in their communities.
He said: “The first realisation should be that at this point, I’m on my own.
“Nobody’s going to help me.
“What can I do to make sure that I don’t go begging?”
Mr. Addai said developing such a mindset, combined with practical skills and creativity, could help young people overcome the tendency to wait for government jobs or other forms of formal employment.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]
