The KNUST Centre for Business Development, (CBD), has been inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis. The Centre has been established to champion entrepreneurship by helping in producing high calibre graduates who would create employment for themselves and others. The Centre further seeks to establish a symbiotic relationship with industry and other relevant institutions to bridge the gap between industry and academia, where students would be trained with, and not just for industry.
The newly inaugurated centre has several units and departments including sections for Resource Raising, Industrial Relations and Internship, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development.
There are other units for Innovations and Business Excellence, Kumasi Business Incubator and Intellectual Property Offices.
The concept of the development of a Business Development Centre, (CBD), started in 2005. It formed part of efforts in developing and implementing key aspects of the University’s strategic plan, “PLAN2K14”.
In 2007, a team was put together to ensure the realisation of this concept comprising officials of the National Board for Small Scale Industries, (NBSSI), and some staff of the University with expertise in entrepreneurship. The Initiative first started with the establishment of a Business Incubator, currently, the Kumasi Business Incubator which forms part of the CBD.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis, stated that the inauguration of the CBD was to tell the business community, industry and all stakeholders that KNUST is ready for business. He stated further that through the CBD, the University has opened another chapter in its drive towards providing better service through partnership or direct service to the business community and other stakeholders.
The MD of Airtel, Mr. Philip Sowah, delivering a speechPhilip Sowah, Managing Director of Airtel, said the establishment of CBD was timely since most recent graduates lacked employable skills to make them successful in the corporate world. He stressed on the need for the inclusion of business development skills in academia to enlighten both students and staff in order to understand the challenges in business and to apply the knowledge gained from academia to solve business challenges and to meet the needs of modern business environment.
Mr. Sowah, hoped the Centre would help people come up with good solutions in order to improve the economy of Ghana.
Edward Boateng, Chief Executive Officer, Global Media Alliance, an alumnus, challenged alumni of the University to give back to society by helping to turn the University into a world-class centre of excellence through their contributions.
Again, Mr. Boateng, challenged the University to change its systems and structures in order to be more responsive to the demands of modern education challenges. He stated that, the development of Ghana does not rest on traditional export commodities, but on the people. He therefore tasked the University administration to produce students who can compete on the global market.
The newly refurbished Centre for Business Development was supported by Airtel Ghana with sixty (60,000), US dollars. With TECHNIP providing furniture and audio-visual equipment, and the French Embassy and the National Board for Small Scale Industries providing facilitation.
