BlueCrest University School of Business hosted its maiden public lecture series on September 16th, 2022, with the theme “Graduate unemployment, is entrepreneurship the way?”
The seminar, which was open to the public, seated over 100 attendees, including members of NUGs and SRCs from various universities and colleges as well as senior high school students from Nungua Secondary School.
Mary Sassah, HOD of the School of Business, opened the seminar by highlighting the institution’s LITE approach (leadership, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship) for students. “One of the institution’s core values is equipping our students with entrepreneurial skills. In order for students to become problem solvers in society, it is necessary to instill in them confidence, competence, and credibility,” she added
The keynote speaker, Akosua Manu deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority, spoke about various issues impacting graduate unemployment and highlighted personal and national-level initiatives designed to address the issue. She emphasized the need for young people to have the passion to go along with the ideas to be able to execute the plans made and also the development of capital, to ensure the accelerated growth of the businesses and partnerships. Even in what appears to be difficult times of unemployment, she urged young people to leverage and develop skills in starting their own businesses and to also create jobs tailored to their own convenience and interests.
During the event, Akosua used the platform to launch an entrepreneurship competition for the students. This initiative is primarily aimed at BlueCrest students and attendees of the event, to encourage and empower young people to start thinking creatively about starting their own businesses and developing the skills they need to succeed in an effort to empower more young people to start their own businesses.
Participants of the competition are required to submit a well-detailed business idea and plan. The winner of the competition will receive funding of five thousand Ghana cedis (5,000 GHS), as well as mentoring and business advice to help them launch and manage their business. The deadline she stated was the 28th of September 2022.
Following a lively Q&A session, Akosua Manu stated,
“Everyone cannot be an entrepreneur, but when you do, note that it comes with challenges. Failures happen, but when they do, consider them lessons that will help you become better.
In her closing remarks, she expressed her gratitude to BlueCrest University College Ghana and encouraged students to take advantage of the many opportunities available at the university.
“I leave you with two things, always bank on yourself, always believe in yourself, and stay positive and grateful,” she concluded.
