By Eric Appah Marfo, GNA
Accra, June 1, GNA – Professor Emmanuel Appiah-Kubi, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Education at the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED), has urged young people to embrace continuous learning, innovation and problem-solving.
“The future belongs to young people who are willing to learn, adapt, and solve problems,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor at the graduation ceremony for beneficiaries of the ACTIVATE Agritech Short Courses on Friday, he said agriculture remained one of the most important sectors of the economy, yet continued to face challenges in value addition, food preservation, technology adoption, digital access, marketing and youth participation.
Prof Appiah-Kubi, also the Coordinator of the ACTIVATE Project, explained that the programme was introduced to provide young people with practical, hands-on and market-relevant skills that responded directly to the needs of Ghana’s agricultural and digital sectors.
He said it was also designed to equip learners with the practical skills and confidence required to develop innovative solutions, create jobs, and take advantage of opportunities within the Agritech ecosystem.
The training focused on four key areas: Agribusiness and Value Addition, Post-Harvest Management, Food Processing, Digital Marketing and Software Development.
Prof Appiah-Kubi said the courses combined technical training, entrepreneurship, innovation and practical exposure to prepare participants for both employment and self-employment opportunities.
He reaffirmed USTED’s commitment to the goals of the ACTIVATE Project and its partnership with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), expressing optimism about future cohorts of the programme.
Prof Appiah-Kubi encouraged the graduates to continue learning, innovating and believing in their abilities.
He expressed confidence that many of the graduates would become business owners, innovators, employers and leaders who would contribute significantly to national development.
The Dean also extended appreciation to WUSC Ghana, the Mastercard Foundation, facilitators, coordinators, staff and all partners whose efforts contributed to the successful implementation of the programme.
Dr Lydia Takyi, Head, Centre for Business Incubation and Innovation and Course Coordinator of the ACTIVATE Agritech Project at USTED, said the first cohort generated tremendous interest among young people across the country.
She said the programme received more than 1,700 applications and expressions of interest nationwide.
Following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, 430 learners were admitted into the programme, while 400 successfully completed the intensive training.
She said the learners demonstrated remarkable commitment and perseverance throughout their learning journey.
“Today, 370 learners proudly graduate, having met all the academic and practical requirements of the programme,” she said.
Dr Takyi said the impact of the programme was already evident, explaining that through mentorship, practical training, internship placements and enterprise development support, nearly 85 per cent of participants had successfully transitioned into either salaried employment or self-employment.
She said the achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of the ACTIVATE Programme in equipping young people with industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurial competencies and the confidence needed to build sustainable careers within the agricultural sector.
Looking ahead, Dr Takyi said the programme would build on the successes of the first cohort by expanding its reach and deepening its impact.
She announced plans to increase female participation in the next cohort to at least 90 per cent, reaffirming the programme’s commitment to empowering young women in agribusiness and agricultural entrepreneurship.
Dr Takyi added that targeted measures would also be implemented to increase the participation of Persons with Disability, displaced persons, and refugees to ensure that vulnerable and marginalised groups were not left behind in skills development and economic empowerment initiatives.
Dr Takyi reiterated USTED‘s commitment to supporting the objectives of the ACTIVATE Project and contributing to the transformation of Ghana’s agricultural sector through inclusive, practical and market-driven skills training.
She said the institution looked forward to welcoming future cohorts and creating more opportunities for young people to become productive agripreneurs, innovators and job creators.
Some graduates who spoke with the Ghana News Agency expressed appreciation to the organisers and partners for the opportunity to participate in the programme and shared testimonies of how the training had transformed their lives.
One participant who enrolled in the food processing component said the programme had equipped her with practical skills in areas such as seasoning production, pie-making, cake-making and other value-added food processing activities.
She said the knowledge acquired had inspired her to apply the skills in her entrepreneurial activities while also supporting others in her community.
The learners were given Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and start up packages including Crocs, aprons, hand mix machine and 5kg of flour.
The ACTIVATE Agritech Project is being implemented to equip young people with practical and market-driven skills, promote entrepreneurship and enhance employment opportunities within Ghana’s agricultural and digital sectors.
The initiative is supported through a partnership involving WUSC Ghana, the Mastercard Foundation and other stakeholders committed to youth empowerment and skills development.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Eric Appah Marfo