The President of Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG), Rev. Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, officially launched the Students Entrepreneurship Fair 2019 at a media launch event orgranised by the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship headed by Mr. Richard Nimako, at the Okwahu Campus, Abetifi.
Students Entrepreneurship Fair 2019, under the theme “Ghana Beyond Aid: Promoting Student Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation,” is scheduled to commence from Wednesday, 26th February to Saturday, 2nd March, 2019 at the Okwahu Campus of PUCG.
The Students Entrepreneurship Fair 2019 aims at creating opportunities in bridging the gap between academia and industry to enable students to interact with industry players on developing their concepts into services and products; and for both students and industry to showcase their creativity and innovation to the general public.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu East District Assembly, Honourable Isaac Agyepong congratulated the University for coming up with such a programme and pledged the Assembly’s support to the programme especially youth entrepreneurship and local economic development activities.
The DCE said “the District Assembly in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, is vigorously developing the much needed productive infrastructure – roads, electricity, water and markets – to attract both local and foreign investors in line with the One District-One Factory, One District-One Exportable Product, Planting for Food and Investment, and Planting for Food and Jobs initiatives in order to attain a Ghana Beyond Aid.”
Hon. Isaac Agyapong encouraged the students to study entrepreneurship, creativity and innovative skills so as to work and expand employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In launching the Students Entrepreneurship Fair 2019, the President of Presbyterian University College, Ghana, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng implored the media to publicize the Fair for the general public to acknowledge the impact of the University in its surrounding communities and on the economy of Ghana as a whole.
The President expressed his joy that the Fair will give students at the second cycle school levels as well as tertiary institutions the opportunity to showcase their innovation and creativity as well as interact with industry players for their mutual benefit.
He believes that this annual event will be a platform for exhibitors to improve on their services and products to drive the Ghanaian economy.
The Acting Dean of the School of Business and Economics, Mr. Agyemang Badu, said for the theme – Ghana Beyond Aid: Promoting Student Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation – to become a reality, students and the general public should take advantage of government and private opportunities like the one being offered by PUCG.
The Acting Dean believes Ghana needs a structural change in the economy to sustain growth through a national policy which he noted will play a vital role in the process.
Mr. Agyemang Badu challenged academia to adopt teaching and learning that is geared towards creativity and innovation in order to become relevant to industry.
In her remarks, the Chairperson for the occasion, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong, the Registrar of PUCG, expressed gratitude to the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, the Planning Committee, the Kwahu East District Assembly and the media partners for working towards making the Students Entrepreneurship Fair a reality. She implored them not to rest on their oars but work hard to make the event a success.
Mr. Enoch Kissi, the Marketing and Brands Manager of Agoo FM who doubled up as a representative of EIB Group spoke on behalf of the media partners and said the media was excited to be part of the event and pledged to do their best to make the event successful.
The four-day Fair which is scheduled to start at 10am and close at 8pm each day expects 100 exhibitors out of which 40 percent would be dedicated to students from various institutions and alumni of PUCG for free.
The other 60 percent exhibitors will pay an amount of GH₵400.00 per stand for the four-day Fair. About 5000 visitors comprising students and the general public are expected to visit the Fair grounds.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Association of Ghana Industries are providing technical support to the Fair. The Kwahu East District Assembly is the main partner of the Fair. There are 12 media partners – Agoo FM, Abusua FM, Ultimate FM, Hi FM, Obuoba FM, Life FM, Luv FM, Nhyira FM, Okwahu FM, Afram FM, Fire FM and Time FM.