As the world marks World Coconut Day, Evans Kofi Kumi, an alumnus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is turning his passion for selling coconuts into a business on campus.
Evans said his excessive consumption of fizzy drinks inspired him to venture into the coconut business.
"I could finish four bottles of 1.5-litre fizzy drinks at a go, which was unhealthy for my health," he said. "Because of this, I researched coconuts and found various health benefits we could derive from them, which are also safer for our health. So, I decided to start selling coconut so that young people can also take care of their health."
Since launching Coconut Boss at Republic Hall, Evans said the business has expanded through improved packaging and the introduction of new products, including Coconut Active with lime.
"We have chalked many successes, including enhancing our product packaging, improving and adding products like Coconut Active with lime. We have also been able to distribute our products to various organisations, supermarkets and other shopping outlets," he said.
Despite the progress, Evans said the business continues to face challenges, particularly in disposing of coconut shells, and called for greater support for recycling and identifying sustainable uses for the waste.
He also cited understaffing as a challenge, saying many young people still prefer traditional white-collar jobs to entrepreneurship.
For young people and student entrepreneurs, Evans urged them to remain diligent and practise effective time management to balance their businesses with their studies and other commitments.
Looking ahead, Evans said he hopes to grow Coconut Boss into a multimillion-cedi enterprise that creates employment opportunities and contributes to the University community and the country's economy.
Story: Abigail Ofori
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