The Agribusiness Students Association of Ghana (ABSAG) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has held the second edition of its Entrepreneurship Clinic for the 2017/2018 academic year at the Faculty of Natural Resources on the theme: “Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Agribusiness Students”.
This year’s Entrepreneurship Clinic had prominent people from various business sectors. The Clinic was a practical one and was to equip, train and to expose members to entrepreneurial opportunities in the agribusiness sector, practical business planning proposal development and interview skills. The clinic was expected to result in viable agribusiness ideas and proposals that the association will pilot.
Mr. Benjamin Kwame Amponsah, the President of ABSAG, KNUST, stated that the clinic was not only to expose members to entrepreneurial opportunities but to also seek to equip students to become better entrepreneurs. Therefore, as part of their hands-on training activities, students would be supported to implement their ideas on campus.
According to Dr. Robert Aidoo, a Patron, there is the need for more practical knowledge in teaching of the course so that students would be much prepared by the end of their academic program. He mentioned that they are trying to expose the students to the business avenues through field trips, bringing people from industries to learn from, among others. Dr. Robert Aidoo added that the association wants to bring business closer to campus where students can get involved.
Barima Osei Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Adinkra pies, a Guest Speaker, spoke on how to start and run an enterprise. Giving a brief history of his entrepreneurial experiences, he shared how he had to sell some properties in order to raise capital to start his pastry business and stressed that starting a business does not require much money but the business must improve as time goes on. He then advised students to start small with a higher goal in mind and not to allow people to change their dreams.
Mr. Osei Mensah revealed that increase in prices, getting others involved or to work with and dealing with people such as workers, competitors and customers are some challenges that may be faced in business but entrepreneurs should focus on what they want to achieve in life. He again advised students to ignore what people say especially when they know what they are doing is right and that they should also learn to be humble.
Mr. Samuel Boama Secu, a representative from Prestige Ghana Limited, in his presentation on Financing and Investment Strategies (FIS) shared with the students how they can invest into other businesses. He also mentioned that every entrepreneur should possess certain qualities like having foresight, the ability to fish out opportunities, the ability to network, strong analytical skills and to strive to be the best.