KNUST Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-Food Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation (Nkabom Collaborative), has expanded its transformative agribusiness training initiative to the Wenchi College of Agriculture and Applied Technology.
The ongoing 10-day training programme is equipping 60 participants with practical entrepreneurial and agribusiness skills aimed at transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector into an innovation-driven and economically sustainable industry.
The training forms part of the Nkabom Collaborative’s broader vision of empowering young people in agriculture with the mindset, technical knowledge, and business orientation needed to create sustainable employment opportunities within the agrifood value chain.
Participants have described the training programme as life-changing, citing its impact on their confidence, business development skills, and entrepreneurial thinking.
One of the participants, Kamaria Moro, noted that the training had significantly improved her presentation and problem-solving abilities.
She explained that although she initially struggled with presentations, the encouragement and continuous engagement throughout the training had boosted her confidence to speak and present effectively.
“I have learnt that you cannot simply generate a business idea and bring it on board without understanding the needs of the people. You need to empathise with the people before starting a business,” she stated.
Another participant, James Nubaziah Awula, explained that the training had reshaped his understanding of entrepreneurship and business development.
According to him, the programme introduced participants to business planning, design thinking, and innovation, helping them appreciate that successful businesses require careful planning and strategic execution.
“I thought going into business was simply about having money, but through this training we have learnt that business planning and design thinking are essential for success,” he said.
He also commended the facilitators for their commitment and practical approach to teaching, noting that the interactive nature of the sessions had strengthened participants’ confidence and teamwork.
The Principal of the Wenchi Agricultural College, Abdulai Mahamadu, described the intervention as timely and critical in addressing graduate unemployment among agricultural students.
According to him, programmes such as the Nkabom agribusiness training provide students with the opportunity to develop innovative ideas that can lead to self-employment and job creation.
“Interventions of this nature are the surest way of bridging the unemployment gap because they encourage learners to develop practical business ideas that can create employment opportunities for themselves and others,” he said.
He further noted that the training has also helped students shape their communication and presentation skills through pitching sessions and group presentations.
He expressed appreciation to the organisers and facilitators for bringing the initiative to the institution and expressed hope that the programme would continue to benefit more students in the future.
