Ghanaian Entrepreneur and the Managing Director of Agricultural Manufacturing Group Limited (AMG), Mr. Ernest Akwasi Appiah has supported the development of student entrepreneurs. The alumnus of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) donated GHS 520,000 to support the establishment of the UGBS Innovation and Incubation Hub (The UGBS NEST). The donation which was made in 2020 has aided in the completion of a physical structure located at the University of Ghana Business School. The structure has a modern co-working space, training room, meeting rooms, an executive lounge and administrative offices.
The UGBS Innovation and Incubation Hub (UGBS NEST) is an innovation centre that nurtures student entrepreneurs, their innovations and incubates them at the hub till breakout. The first cohort of incubates comprising of 5 entrepreneurial teams were admitted into the hub in July 2021. These teams are undergoing mentorship, training and preparations for several international and local entrepreneurial pitches to refine their concepts and source for funding.
On October 28, 2021 a team from the UGBS paid a courtesy call on Mr Appiah. The UGBS delegation included Professor Justice Bawole, Dean of the UGBS; Mr. Emmanuel Poku-Sarkodie, School Administrator; Professor Bedman Narteh, Head, Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship; Dr. George Acheampong, Coordinator of the Innovation Hub; Mrs. Mammie Hutchful-Nortey, ORID Liaison for the hub, and the incubatees.
At the meeting which was held at the AMG offices, Mr. Ernest Appiah expressed his appreciation of the gesture shown him by the UGBS team. He further enlightened the team about the operations of AMG as one of the leading fertilizer producers and distributors in Ghana and a contender in the West African Sub region. Mr. Appiah also shared his experiences as an entrepreneur and encouraged the incubates to persist in their businesses and innovations because it will help create employment opportunities for several individuals in the country. Mr. Appiah, after the 5 teams had presented their innovations and businesses to him, subsequently presented the teams with a cheque of GHS 100,000 as seed fund to support their business activities.
Mr. Appiah concluded that, as an entrepreneur and an alumnus of the UGBS, he is proud to have supported this cause and would wish to see the progress of the teams in the next few months. The dean of UGBS, Professor Justice Bawole, received the GHS 100,000 cheque on behalf of the UGBS NEST and indicated the School’s profound appreciation for the gesture. The dean also used the opportunity to commend Mr. Appiah on his achievements and the good job he is doing at AMG together with his staff. He also called on other Alumni of the UGBS to come on board and support the creation of the next generation of business owners in Ghana through the UGBS Innovation and Incubation Hub (UGBS NEST).
On behalf of the student entrepreneurs, Miss Monica Amable expressed how the teams were grateful to their benefactor, Mr. Appiah, and promised that they would use the funds judiciously to promote their entrepreneurial activities.
