By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Apr 30, GNA - Entrepreneurial education and training is the catalyst for graduates' job creation, Dr Frederick Doe, Deputy Director for Professional Programmes and a Senior Lecturer in Management at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has said.
He said one of the cardinal reasons why Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) programme was established in the University was to empower students to acquire skills to do business.
Dr Doe said this at the Second Annual SME Success Story Series Seminar on the theme "Small Business Today: Industrial Giants Tomorrow".
The seminar, which was organised at the UPSA's Faculty of Management and the Department of Business Administration, brought together former students who offered SME Management as a course to see how they were putting the course into practice and how the course was helping them to develop their entrepreneurial intentions.
It was also to encourage those currently offering the SME course that, starting their own businesses was doable.
Three former UPSA SME students who participated in panel discussion at the seminar included Mr Gabriel King Akpalu, Executive President, SOLNetwork; Mr Daniel Vaeta, Founder and Team Leader, Danvee Studios; and Mr Milton Annan, Executive Director, Brothers Image Advertising Ltd.
Dr Doe said: "We've being teaching SMEs since 2008, and after a while we thought we should tell our story as a University, as a faculty, as a department. This is because we are not just interested in teaching courses but we are more interested in how the courses are translated into reality."
He said about a hundred thousand university graduates in business were produced in the country, stating that, only 10 per cent of them get any gainful employment.
He said the remaining 90 per cent were either on the waiting list or join the Ghana Unemployed Graduates Association.
Mrs Fidelis Quansah, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), UPSA said integrity counted a lot in starting and operating businesses.
She said the UPSA Business Incubator Centre existed to assist young professionals to turn ideas into viable ventures.
Mr Milton said, he believes in humble beginning, and that inspiring the youth brought him joy and made him fulfilled.
He urged the students to give off their best, work hard for God to reward their efforts.
Mr Akpalu, who said entrepreneurship was doable, urged the students to follow their passion and interest.
Mr Vaeta said in order to succeed in entrepreneurship, one needed to be focused and committed.
GNA
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS