YouStart is embarking on a boot camp to empower and train young entrepreneurs who want to start private businesses. This is a liaise between the University of Ghana SRC and YouStart to train students to acquire entreprneural skills before leaving the university. Prof. George Oduro Nkansah of the Institute of applied science and technology said in an interview.
Prof. Nkansah added that their mandate is to transfer innovation and technology to industry and equip students with entrepreneurial skills as they go out from the university so that they become industry greats.
Also, the organisation also plans to allocate 10 per cent of its funding to religious institutions like the church and mosques to train the youth in technical and vocational skills in order for them to earn a living for themselves. The businesses identified include textile and fabric making, soap and detergents, shea butter production, and charcoal production from coconut husk among others.
Under the district entrepreneurship program, beneficiaries can secure funding for up to 100 thousand Ghana cedis, however, based on their business plan and ideas. This is a long-term initiative by the government to grow Ghanaian transnational companies that will compete globally.
The YouStart organisation sought to create a market for entrepreneurs by negotiating with Ghanaian and multinational companies to patronise goods and products from them should any of such products be in demand. This means that entrepreneurs in the textile and fabric industry can supply uniforms to schools whereas those in soap making industry can supply to hospitals. The spokesperson explained.