Hon. Frimpong-Addo, Dr. Afua Asare, Alhassan Yakubu-Tali, Nana Siriboe, others to mentor agric students at AG-STUD 2023

The 5-day bootcamp, officially kicks-off today, with the arrival of about one hundred and twenty-five (125) students and beginner agribusinesses from Kwadaso Agric College, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agric College, Asuanzi Agric College, Ohaw Agric College and Wenchi Agric College.

The other campers include students from Fair River Farm Institute, Veterinary, UNER, UCC, University of Ghana, KNUST, UCAS, Methodist University, Catholic University, Central University and University of Development Studies.

This year’s bootcamp is being hosted under the theme – “5 years of Grooming, Training and Empowerment: Where We Are Now With Our Agribusiness.”

The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, in a press statement, said the Hon. Deputy Minister, Yaw Frimpong-Addo is keenly looking forward to listening to the career journeys of past beneficiaries of the bootcamp, who will be sharing their Career and business growth, after their participation in the bootcamp.

The Hon. Deputy Minister, is equally, excitedly looking forward to further empowering and motivating all bootcampers and non-bootcampers, during tomorrow’s opening event.

Alberta said, while in the last five years, many of the beneficiaries have become agripreneurs in their schools and communities, the Minister’s keynote address will provide motivation as he is expected to draw on stories from his childhood, academic experiences and career choices, to inspire the participants to make choices 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 event will also host other key mentors including, Dr. Afua Asabea  Asare of the Ghana Export Promotions Authority, who will be leading an AgriTed Talk session on, “Forward Planning, Strategic Thinking and Leadership Mindset”.

The 2022 National Best Farmer, Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, will also focus on “How to cope when the Going gets tough”, during his AgriIted Talk session.

The Managing Director of LK International and founder on the famous “Aboboya” Tricycles Dr. Nora Goa, is optimistic her Agri-Ted Talk, on the theme, “Agribusiness, Innovations and Market Identification Development,” will empower the students to take their creative ideas and innovation seriously as she did.

Mr. Ebenezer Acheampong, Senior Elder of the Church of Pentecost (Ghana), will also be leading an AgriTed Talk on “The Gospel and Discipline of Financial Management.”

A Former Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (MOFA) and a respected Engineer, 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, in their quest to building  a Farm Enterprise.

CPC’s Marketing Manager, Mr. Nana Ansong will also lead an AgriTed Talk session on, “The Power of Personal and Corporate Branding for a Beginner Agribusiness”.  FDA’s Roderick Daddey-Adjei will also take the Mentees through “ Quality and Food Safety Manangement Principles, whiles ADB’s Mark Antonio will also focus on the topic: “ A Pesewa A Day: Keys to steady financial Growth and Savings for a beginner Agribusiness.

The 5-day also have Holland Arkor’s Managing Director, Albert Opoku, speaking on, “ Opportunities within the Poultry Sector. Blue Skies’ Alistair Djimatey is expected to lead a session on, “Time and Mind Management”. Hon. Fifi Kwetey will also lead an Agri-Ted Talk session on, “Activating Your Purpose through Self-Realization”, whiles Dizengoff’s Agric Manager, Mr. Janus will also focus on “Generating, Developing and Building an Agribusiness Idea into a Business.”

Agromonti Company Ltd and Nanam Ventures, two rapidly growing Input Companies, has joined forces to establish a state-of the art Input Dealer Business, for the ultimate winner of the AG-STUD BOOTCAMP Challenge. Campers will be expected to present a paper on how they will develop a product and sustain market interest within their community. The Winner will be adjudged on the final day, which is Friday, March 31, 2023.

AGRA’ Country Manager, Madam Juliette Jampoh, is expected lead a key Training session on “Building Credibility and Accountability – Understanding Control and Ethical Values, Developing a Corportate Procedure, Data Handling and Documentation, Risk Assessment, Monitoring and Management

Other esteemed resource persons from Yara Ghana, OCP Ghana, and Carbon AV, Broadspectrum, have also been tapped to lead as mentors, coaches and trainers for various capacity building sessions for the 5-day period.

The total of about three hundred and fifty (350) campers and non-campers, will, within the 5-days bootcamp, be taken through other Competence-Based, Capacity Building and field training Sessions. These have all been structured to achieve specific goals, purposes and targets at the end of the bootcamp.

Focused sessions include Agri-Growth, Agri-Inspire and Mind-Set Shaping Sessions, which are all expected to shape mindsets and assist participants to articulate their business mindset.  The Ag-Voyage, Agri–Booster and Agri-Value Session, are expected to grow and activate teamwork, push out their creative and innovative composure, develop their art of public speaking, persuasive, negotiating abilities, presentation skills, problem solving tactics and dynamics.

Throughout the bootcamp, participants will be taken through Health, Mental and disciplinary drills.

The annual Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship bootcamp, is organized by Agrihouse Foundation, in partnership with the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.