The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong-Addo will be delivering the Keynote motivational Address at the opening ceremony of this year’s sixth Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Bootcamp (AG-STUD AFRICA), organized by Agrihouse Foundation.
Scheduled to take place in Accra at the GNAT Hall, this year’s 5-day bootcamp is expected to start on Monday, March 27, to Friday, March 31, 2023, on the theme, “5 years of Grooming, Training and Empowerment— where we are now with our Agribusiness.”
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, in a press statement, said the Deputy Minister is keenly looking forward to empowering the about two hundred and thirty-three (233) agric-students, beginner agribusinesses and agric enthusiasts, expected to be at the event.
She said while in the last five years, many of the beneficiaries have become agripreneurs in their schools and communities, the Ministers keynote address will provide motivation as he will be drawing on stories from his childhood, academic experiences and career choices, to inspire the young agriporeneurs to make choice that will grow and sustain their agribusinesses.
The Minister is also expected to delve into investing in sustainable agriculture, government’s policies and programs in place for young Ghanaians who are into or interested in the agric sector.
The opening ceremony will also host dignitaries including, the Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Fifi Kwetey, who is expected to lead an AgriTed Talk on theme, “Activating Your Purpose through Self-Realization.”
2022 National Best Farmer, Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, has also confirmed his participation and will be leading a TedTalk on the theme, Developing and Managing your Agribusiness and Organizational Structures.
The Managing Director of LK International, Madam Nora Goa, is optimistic her Agri-Ted Talk, on the theme, “Agribusiness, Innovations and Market Identification Development,” will empower the students to put in place strong agribusiness structures as they set up their agribusiness enterprises.
Mr. Ebenezer Acheampong, Senior Elder of the Church of Pentecost (Ghana), will also be empowering the students with a financial Talk, on the topic, The Gospel and Discipline of Financial Management.”
Former Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (MOFA), Mr. Kwesi Boamah, who will be engaging the beneficiaries during the AG-VOYAGE Tour, has described the session as necessary, as it familiarizes the young agripreneurs with agribusiness operations.
Other esteemed resource persons from FDA, GEPA, CPC, ADB, Dizengoff, OCP Ghana, and Carbon AV, Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Broadspectrum Ghana, Blue Skies, Mastercard Foundation, Newmont, and Yara Ghana, have also been tapped to lead as mentors, coaches and trainers for various capacity building sessions for the 5-day period.
The Competence-Based, Capacity Building and field training Sessions have been restructured to achieve specific purposes. While sessions including, Agri-Growth, Agri-Ted Talks, Agri-Inspire And Mind-Set Shaping Session, are expected to motivate and empower the students; sessions including Ag-Voyage, Agri–Booster and Agri-Value Session, are expected to develop the spirit of teamwork among the students, develop their art of public speaking, negotiating abilities and presentation skills. Through the activities, they will explore their creative and wear their innovative hats, which is expected to assist them identify challenges and propose solutions.
Presently, twenty-five (25) agricultural colleges and universities across the country have confirmed their participation in this year’s Bootcamp. The bootcamp is looking forward to hosting two hundred and thirty-three (233) beneficiaries comprising of agric students, beginner agripreneurs and agric enthusiasts.
“About three (3) students are expected to represent each school this year. To scale-up our female student’s participation, we have reserved room for about seventy female students, representing forty percent of participants, who will be part of the bootcamp. Daily, the event will also host about sixty day-campers, who will be joining the training sessions from selected senior high schools, Ms. Askosa revealed.
The 5-day bootcamp is being supported by Dizengoff Ghana Limited, NANAM Ventures, OCP Ghana, Agromonti Ghana Limited, and World Food Programme (WFP). It is in partnership with Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG).
