Young Agripreneur Forum at UCC hosts orientation to empower future agribusiness leaders
The Young Agripreneur Forum (YAF) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has held an orientation and onboarding session for its new members at the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (D-Hub) of the university.
YAF is a student-led interactive platform where tertiary students can share and exchange ideas, interests, and engage in activities related to agriculture. The forum provides capacity building and practical skills training, invests in changing perceptions about agriculture, and promotes agripreneurship as a viable career path. An initiative of the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), YAF is dedicated to empowering young agricultural entrepreneurs.
The orientation was attended by both new and existing members, alongside YAF patrons, Dr Alexander Nuer, Dr Keren Arthur, and Programme Officer (PO) Irene Naa Korkoi Armah. They provided valuable insights on agribusiness and youth opportunities in Ghana, urging members to actively engage in the sector, given its potential to drive job creation and economic growth.
The event also served as a platform to introduce the newly elected Executive Council and explore entrepreneurial opportunities within Ghana’s agricultural value chain. The executives outlined their vision and commitment to fostering agribusiness development among young people.
New members had the opportunity to discuss challenges in the agricultural sector, identifying key issues such as post-harvest losses, inadequate market access, and value addition in agribusiness. Through interactive discussions, members explored innovative solutions to transform these challenges into entrepreneurial ventures.
A dedicated session was held to outline the Forum’s work plan for the semester and the year ahead. Members deliberated on anchor projects to be undertaken, ensuring that initiatives align with YAF’s objective of promoting youth involvement in agribusiness.
The orientation concluded with a session on sustainability planning, where members discussed strategies to ensure the long-term success and impact of YAF-UCC. Key focus areas included resource mobilisation, partnerships, and capacity-building programmes.
The YAF-UCC orientation was a resounding success, equipping new members with knowledge, motivation, and a clear roadmap for the year. With the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated, the forum is well-positioned to make significant contributions to Ghana’s agribusiness sector and youth employment.
Kosmos Innovation Center, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, remains committed to empowering young people through entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. YAF is one of the key initiatives being implemented under the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural Transformation (IYAT) Programme as part of the KIC-Mastercard Foundation partnership.