The Young Agripreneur Forum on University of Cape-Coast campus has held an orientation and onboarding for its new members at the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (D-Hub) of the university.
YAF is a student-led interactive forum where tertiary students can share and exchange ideas, interests and engage in activities pertaining to agriculture. YAF provides capacity building and practical skills training for students, invest in changing the mindset and perceptions of young people and position agripreneurship as an exciting career of choice. An initiative of Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), YAF is dedicated to empowering young agricultural entrepreneurs.
Also present at the orientation were new and existing members of YAF patrons, namely Dr. Alexander Nuer, Dr. Keren Arthur and the Program Officer (PO) Irene Naa Korkoi Armah, who provided valuable perspectives on agribusiness and youth opportunities in Ghana. They also encouraged members to actively engage in the agribusiness sector, emphasizing its potential to drive job creation and economic growth.
The event also served as an opportunity to introduce newly elected executive council and provide insights into entrepreneurial prospects in the agricultural value chain in Ghana. The executives shared their vision and commitment to fostering agribusiness development among young people.
New members were given the platform to discuss challenges they perceive in the agricultural sector. Through these discussions, members explored innovative ways to turn these challenges into entrepreneurial ventures. Key areas identified included post-harvest losses, inadequate market access, and value addition in agribusiness. A dedicated session was held to outline the Forum’s work plan for the semester and the entire year. Members deliberated on various anchor projects to be undertaken, ensuring that the initiatives align with the YAF objectives of promoting youth involvement in agribusiness.
The orientation concluded with a session on sustainability planning. Members discussed strategies to ensure the long-term success and impact of YAF-UCC, focusing on resource mobilization, partnerships, and capacity-building programs.
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 the agribusiness sector and youth employment in Ghana.
Kosmos Innovation Center, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is committed to empowering young people through employment opportunities through entrepreneurship. The Young Agripreneur Forum ( YAF) is one of the programs KIC is implementing under its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation on the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural Transformation ( IYAT) Program.